FoodData Central vs Foodish
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
FoodData Central vs Foodish: common questions
Which is more reliable, FoodData Central or Foodish?
On our scheduled checks, FoodData Central leads on measured uptime — FoodData Central at 98.0% versus Foodish at 27.5% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.
Which is faster, FoodData Central or Foodish?
Foodish has the lower median latency in our checks — FoodData Central responds in 1726 ms versus Foodish at 250 ms (P50). Tail latency (P95) is in the table above; for most workloads the median is the number that shapes how the API feels.
Do FoodData Central and Foodish need an API key?
Foodish needs no key, while FoodData Central requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Foodish first.
Can I call FoodData Central and Foodish from the browser?
Only FoodData Central is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. Foodish needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.
Are FoodData Central and Foodish free for commercial use?
FoodData Central has unclear commercial terms, and Foodish has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.