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FoodData Central vs Squiggle

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

APIFoodData CentralNEW—SquiggleNEW—
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d—%—%
Uptime · 30d—%—%
P50 · ms——
P95 · ms——
AuthapiKeynone
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree tier — API key may be required for productionFree — no key
Rate limit10 req/window · 9 remainingUnpublished
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

FoodData Central vs Squiggle: common questions

Which is more reliable, FoodData Central or Squiggle?

On our scheduled checks, Squiggle leads on measured uptime — FoodData Central at —% versus Squiggle at —% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Do FoodData Central and Squiggle need an API key?

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

Can I call FoodData Central and Squiggle from the browser?

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

Are FoodData Central and Squiggle free for commercial use?

FoodData Central has unclear commercial terms, and Squiggle 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.