From Nutrition Labels to FDA Recalls: Inside America's Food Data

What's actually in the food you eat? Which restaurants in your neighborhood have health code violations? Has a product you bought been recalled by the FDA? The answers exist in federal databases — but good luck finding them. FoodInsider.org consolidates data from the USDA, FDA, and local health departments into 9 searchable platforms covering everything from nutrition facts to farmers markets.

2 Million Nutrition Records

The nutrition facts database is the largest component of FoodInsider, containing over 2 million records sourced from the USDA FoodData Central database. Every entry includes detailed macro and micronutrient breakdowns — calories, protein, fat, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals — for branded products, generic foods, and restaurant items.

Unlike the USDA's own interface, which is designed for researchers, our platform is built for everyday consumers. Search for any food item and get an instant, readable nutritional profile. Compare foods side by side. Filter by dietary criteria. Whether you're managing a medical condition, tracking macros, or simply curious about what you're eating, the data is presented clearly and accessibly.

The database covers everything from raw ingredients like "chicken breast, skinless, raw" to branded products like specific breakfast cereals, frozen meals, and snack foods. It's the most comprehensive free nutrition lookup tool available online.

Restaurant Safety and FDA Oversight

Food safety is one of those topics people don't think about until something goes wrong. FoodInsider aims to change that by making inspection and recall data proactively accessible:

• NYC Restaurant Grades — 281,000 inspection records covering every restaurant, bar, and food establishment in New York City. Search by name, cuisine, borough, or grade. See the full inspection history including specific violations cited.
• FDA Recalls — 96,000 recall records covering food, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics. Find out if products you've purchased have been recalled and why.
• FDA-Approved Drugs — 49,000 drug approvals with application details, active ingredients, and approval dates. An essential reference for healthcare providers and patients alike.

The NYC restaurant grades dataset is particularly powerful for consumers. Every restaurant in the city receives letter grades based on health inspections, and our platform makes the full history searchable. You can see not just a restaurant's current grade, but its track record over time — how many critical violations it has accumulated, whether it's improving or declining, and how it compares to other establishments in the same neighborhood.

America's Agricultural Landscape

FoodInsider also maps the agricultural side of the food system through several specialized directories:

• Alcohol Producers — 28,000 licensed breweries, wineries, and distilleries from TTB permits data
• Agritourism — 13,000 farms and ranches that offer public experiences like U-picks, corn mazes, and farm tours
• Farmers Markets — 7,000 markets across the country with location, schedule, and product information sourced from the USDA directory
• On-Farm Markets — 4,000 farm stands and on-site retail locations where consumers can buy directly from producers
• Food Storage Guide — 770 items with shelf life information from the USDA, helping consumers reduce food waste

These directories connect consumers directly to producers and local food sources. As interest in farm-to-table dining, local food systems, and food provenance continues to grow, having a comprehensive map of agricultural resources becomes increasingly valuable.

Connecting Food Data to Public Health

The datasets in FoodInsider aren't just consumer conveniences — they're public health tools. Researchers studying the relationship between food access and health outcomes can cross-reference farmers market locations with food desert maps. Epidemiologists tracking foodborne illness outbreaks can use recall data to identify patterns. Nutritionists can use the comprehensive food database to design dietary interventions for specific populations.

By making this data accessible, we're enabling the kind of analysis that was previously restricted to academics with institutional data access or government analysts with internal tools.

Explore the Full Platform

Visit FoodInsider.org to search nutrition facts, check restaurant grades, browse FDA recalls, or find farmers markets near you. Every dataset is free, updated regularly, and designed to be useful for both everyday consumers and professional researchers.

FoodInsider is one of the data platforms built by TheDataProject.AI — making America's food data open, searchable, and accessible to everyone.