Data sources
Data sources: where our nutrition numbers come from
Nutrition numbers on this site and in the app come from different places, and we label which is which. Food pages use USDA FoodData Central values multiplied by portion weights we state. Calculators use published formulas. Photo and text results in the app are AI estimates, not USDA values.
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Where each number comes from
| Where you see it | Where the numbers come from | Is it AI? |
|---|---|---|
| Food calorie pages (for example, nasi lemak, apel) | USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) values per 100 g, times portion weights we state on each page | No |
| Calculators (calories, TDEE, BMI, body fat, protein and others) | Published formulas and guidelines, cited on each page | No |
| Photo and text logging in the app | An AI model estimates foods and portions; you review and edit the result | Yes, an estimate |
| Barcode scanning in the app | Product database entries; it depends on the product being listed | No, but entries can be wrong or missing |
| App comparison pages | Each competitor's own website, with the date we checked | No |
Where do the calorie numbers on your food pages come from?
They come from USDA FoodData Central, the U.S. government's food composition database. For each ingredient we take its calories and macros per 100 grams, multiply by the grams we assume per portion and add them up. Each page lists the USDA entry, its FDC ID and the date we retrieved it.
Example: nasi lemak calories.
Does the USDA approve or endorse your pages?
No. USDA FoodData Central is public data that anyone may use, and we cite it as our source. The USDA has not reviewed our pages, our calculations or AI Calorie, and we do not use its logo. Saying a number is sourced from USDA data does not mean the USDA verified our result.
Are the numbers in the AI Calorie app from the USDA?
No. When you photograph or describe a meal, an AI model estimates the foods and portions, and you review the result. Those are estimates, not USDA values. Barcode scans use product database entries. The USDA numbers appear only in the tables on our food pages, where we say so.
What do you do when a food is missing from the USDA data?
We use a close substitute and mark it as a proxy on the page. For example, there is no rendang or sweet soy sauce in the USDA data, so a page may use braised beef with coconut milk, or soy sauce with sugar. Proxies make the result approximate, and we say so beside the table.
Who checks the nutrition pages?
Our food pages stay hidden from search engines until a qualified dietitian reviews the numbers and the method. They are marked as awaiting review, and we will name the reviewer and their credentials on each page once that is done. Calculators cite their published sources and are not medical advice.
How do I report a mistake?
Email us at contact@aicalorie.app with the page and what looks wrong. We check the claim against its source, fix the page and update its date. If a number came from a proxy or an assumption, we will say so on the page rather than hide it.
About the USDA data we use
We use the SR Legacy data type in FoodData Central, which lists nutrients per 100 grams of a food as analysed or calculated by USDA. The data is in the public domain. Where a food has several entries, we pick the one that matches how the food is eaten, such as cooked rice rather than raw, and list its FDC ID so you can check it yourself.
Food pages and their status
- Nasi lemak: awaiting dietitian review
- Telur rebus: awaiting dietitian review
- Apel: awaiting dietitian review
- Nasi goreng: awaiting dietitian review
- Mie ayam: awaiting dietitian review
- Bubur ayam: awaiting dietitian review
- Nasi padang: awaiting dietitian review
Sources
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019.
Related: medical review · about us · calculators
AI Calorie gives general nutrition information and AI-generated estimates. It is not medical advice. See medical review and our Terms of Use.