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FoodData Central vs LCBO

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

APIFoodData CentralHEALTHY76LCBOHEALTHY98
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d98.0%100%
Uptime · 30d96.7%100%
P50 · ms1726207
P95 · ms3453429
AuthapiKeynone
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree tier — API key may be required for productionFree — limits not published
Rate limit10 req/window · 9 remaining60 req/window · 59 remaining · resets 60
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

FoodData Central vs LCBO: common questions

Which is more reliable, FoodData Central or LCBO?

On our scheduled checks, LCBO leads on measured uptime — FoodData Central at 98.0% versus LCBO at 100% 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 LCBO?

LCBO has the lower median latency in our checks — FoodData Central responds in 1726 ms versus LCBO at 207 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 LCBO need an API key?

LCBO needs no key, while FoodData Central requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for LCBO first.

Can I call FoodData Central and LCBO from the browser?

Only FoodData Central is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. LCBO needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.

Are FoodData Central and LCBO free for commercial use?

FoodData Central has unclear commercial terms, and LCBO 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.