Data Sources: BLS and Open Food Facts
The app uses two external data sources for nutritional analysis – here’s what they can do and where their limits lie.
Overview
| BLS | Open Food Facts | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel (German Food Composition Database) | Open Food Facts |
| Type | Scientific nutrient database | Crowdsourced product database |
| Focus | Raw foods and basic ingredients | Packaged, purchasable products |
| Nutrient depth | Very high (micronutrients) | Depends on label declaration |
| Barcode scan | ❌ | ✅ |
| Access | Integrated in app | Real-time search |
Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel (BLS)
What Is BLS?
BLS is a scientific database from the Max Rubner Institute (Federal Research Centre for Nutrition and Food). It contains nutritional data for basic foods, raw ingredients and typical dishes – down to micronutrient level.
Strengths of BLS
- Very detailed: Not just macros (fat, carbohydrates, protein), but also:
- Individual fatty acids
- Amino acids
- Vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E, K, …)
- Minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, …)
- Specific carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, lactose, …)
- Scientifically validated
Limits of BLS
- Mainly basic foods and generic dishes
- Few brand products or packaged convenience foods
- No barcode scanner possible
When to Use BLS?
- When creating recipes with basic ingredients (flour, eggs, milk, vegetables, meat)
- When you want detailed micronutrient analysis
Open Food Facts (OFF)
What Is Open Food Facts?
Open Food Facts is a free, crowdsourced database for packaged foods. Users around the world scan products and record the nutritional values from the packaging.
Strengths of OFF
- Very many products: Millions of EAN barcodes
- Barcode scanner directly in the app
- International: Products from many countries
Limits of OFF
- Quality varies widely – data is only as good as the label declaration (and the person who entered it)
- EU labeling rules often only require rough figures
- Micronutrients are frequently missing
- Outdated or incorrect entries possible
When to Use OFF?
- For packaged products with an EAN barcode
- When you need a quick macro overview
- For everyday convenience products (yogurt, muesli, frozen pizza, …)
BLS Linking for OFF Products
For more accurate nutritional analysis you can link an OFF product to a BLS entry:
Example: OFF product "Alpro Oat Drink"
→ BLS entry "Oat drink, unsweetened"
→ Link: the BLS entry set supplements the incomplete OFF dataThis link is optional, but it significantly improves the quality of micronutrient analysis.
How to do it: 1. When adding an ingredient in a recipe, select an OFF result 2. Tap “Add BLS link” 3. Search for the matching BLS entry 4. Confirm the link
Important Note on Accuracy
⚠️ All nutritional analyses are approximations. The actual composition of foods varies by origin, preparation and season. The app helps you recognize trends – not measure exact values.
Sources of error: - Imprecise quantity specifications during entry - Incomplete OFF data - Missing or incorrect BLS links - Natural variation in food composition
Frequently Asked Questions
How often is the OFF database queried? At most once every 10 seconds – this is a requirement of the OFF terms of use. The hourglass in the app shows the wait time.
Is the data available offline? BLS is integrated in the app and available offline. OFF searches and barcode scans require an internet connection.
Can I enter my own nutritional values? Yes – you can create a recipe manually with your own nutritional data if neither BLS nor OFF has a matching entry (e.g. read from the packaging).