Foodish vs openFDA
Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.
Foodish vs openFDA: common questions
Which is more reliable, Foodish or openFDA?
On our scheduled checks, openFDA leads on measured uptime — Foodish at 27.5% versus openFDA at 94.1% 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, Foodish or openFDA?
Foodish has the lower median latency in our checks — Foodish responds in 250 ms versus openFDA at 1187 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 Foodish and openFDA need an API key?
Neither needs a paid key — Foodish is callable with no signup, and openFDA is callable with no signup. Both are quick to prototype with; rate limits still apply.
Can I call Foodish and openFDA from the browser?
Only openFDA 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 Foodish and openFDA free for commercial use?
Foodish has unclear commercial terms, and openFDA 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.