Data Sources

Trust · Where the data comes from

Data sources

Every product entry and every ingredient name in FoodBuddy has a source. This page names them and explains how errors get fixed.

Product database: Open Food Facts

Product data in FoodBuddy builds on Open Food Facts, the open, collaborative food products database, made available under the Open Database License (ODbL). Open Food Facts is maintained by a worldwide community of volunteers; entries can be incomplete or out of date, which is one reason FoodBuddy always points you back to the physical label.

Ingredient dictionary: curated by INSIGHT42

The dictionary that groups ingredients with their alternative label names — the core of the matching described in our methodology — is curated by us. It is compiled from public labeling regulations and ingredient nomenclature (for example the EU Food Information Regulation’s allergen labeling rules and common E-number listings) and refined continuously as users report label terms we do not yet recognize.

What we do not use

FoodBuddy does not use unverified health claims as data, does not score foods as “good” or “bad”, and does not generate safety verdicts from any source. Sources inform what an ingredient is called — not whether it is safe for you.

Found an error?

If a product entry or an ingredient name is wrong or missing, tell us: myinfo@insight42.com. Product-level corrections can also be contributed directly to Open Food Facts, which benefits every app built on it. Our correction process is described in the editorial policy.

FoodBuddy is an educational tool for exploring ingredients. It does not determine whether food is safe for you and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always check the product label.