Comments on: find out what's in it before it's in you.

find out what's in it before it's in you.

crunchland — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 10:32:54 -0800

Find out what's in it before it's in you ... using free software provided by the US Department of Agriculture's database. The information, which can be kept on a PC (Windows) or PDA (Palm OS), provides a detailed listing of nutrients (calories, protein, fat, carbs, sugars, vitamins, minerals) on almost 7,000 foods, including processed and fast foods.

By: crunchland

crunchland — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 10:33:22 -0800

For example, a Wendy's Single hamburger with cheese has 522 calories, 35.09 grams of protein, 33.51 grams of carbs, 45.1 micrograms of selenium, 90 millegrams or cholesterol, 0.283 grams of tryptophan, etc. etc. etc. The search results are more detailed than any other software of its type that I've seen.

By: squirrel

squirrel — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 10:45:51 -0800

Naturally it's only for Windows. The feds want to be able to go in through Bill's back door to see what we've been thinking about eating. Falafel? Terrorist.

By: Gator

Gator — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 10:50:58 -0800

This is nifty, but I'm disappointed that the USDA has apparently never heard of pierogies.

By: mischief

mischief — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 10:55:57 -0800

An online search is also available, squirrel.

By: cacahuete

cacahuete — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 10:56:41 -0800

I've been using this for calculating recipes' nutritional value since my sister pointed it out. While it's never saved me from not eating something that I shouldn't have, it has allowed me to be a little more informed about what I just ate, and therefore able to feel appropriately shamed afterwards. I've had pretty good luck finding what I was looking for, but 205 results for lamb left me a little daunted. Do I have "lamb, New Zealand, imported, frozen, loin, separable lean and fat, raw," or "lamb, New Zealand, imported, frozen, leg, whole (shank and sirloin), separable lean and fat, trimmed to 1/8" fat, raw," or one of the other 203 choices, or what? If anything, it's taught me to pay more attention at the grocery store.

By: Mr_Zero

Mr_Zero — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 10:58:50 -0800

Bah... They don't even list the Hungry Man All Day Breakfast

By: crunchland

crunchland — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 11:02:40 -0800

When keying it it, the database tech probably collapsed due to a coronary just from the second-hand fat.

By: elpapacito

elpapacito — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 11:04:15 -0800

Here's a list of thing and how they're made, now try figuring out how to use it :D ! For instance, why is the food shown by Mr Zero delicious, nutricious , icycious and good for your health ?

By: splatta

splatta — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 11:36:03 -0800

They don't seem to have chipotle burritos in their database, check out what's in your burrito at chipotlefan. For instance, the (vegetarian) burrito I had yesterday contained 1705 calories, and 71g of fat (!!!)

By: gyc

gyc — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 11:45:09 -0800

George Bush hates Mac people.

By: unixrat

unixrat — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 11:54:10 -0800

"Free" as in beer, not as in speech.

By: SteveInMaine

SteveInMaine — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 12:21:01 -0800

This is nifty, but I'm disappointed that the USDA has apparently never heard of pierogies. They can have my pierogies when they pry them from my cold, dead fingers.

By: Citizen Premier

Citizen Premier — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 13:12:40 -0800

Once I get my personal stomach pump I won't have to worry about any of this.

By: mkhall

mkhall — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 15:12:51 -0800

Naturally it's only for Windows. The feds want to be able to go in through Bill's back door to see what we've been thinking about eating. Falafel? Terrorist. What?! Bill O'Reilly's a terrorist?! Oh, eating falafel. Nevermind.

By: dilettante

dilettante — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 15:37:57 -0800

Thesame database is accessible/searchable through a webpage, also from the USDA. No Windows required! (This is available from the link in the FPP).

By: turtlegirl

turtlegirl — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 15:46:39 -0800

It's a great calculator if you cook a lot of your own foods and want to figure out if you're getting what you need (or if you are getting to much of things you don't need). As an aside, it's interesting that it gives nutritional information, not ingredients of processed foods. Because polysorbytalmonounchlorinatedmercuritone may cause health problems, but at least it doesn't have any calories!

By: turtlegirl

turtlegirl — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 15:49:57 -0800

to=too

By: RustyBrooks

RustyBrooks — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 15:51:27 -0800

You used to be able to get the databse in a raw format from the department of agriculture. I have a really old one that I used to make this web page. If they don't still distribute it, I'd be happy to put the text file up somewhere. It's not as up-to-date as the web version that I just looked at, for example, it does not include Wendy's stuff (or much fast food at all). I also think it's a bit crazy how in-depth they go with some products (like the lamb mentioned above). It also seemed a bit bit skewed towards commercial products. I got it and used it to integrate into my recipe software, to automatically generate nutrition data, so I just needed data for raw ingredients, mostly, a few hundred items at most.

By: Mr Stickfigure

Mr Stickfigure — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 15:54:45 -0800

Mr_Zero : I'll see your 231% cholesterol and raise you 939% (via everywhere). Raw pork brains are in the database but I found another site with a better interface for web searches which lists a single serving (braised) as having an instant-cardiac-arrest cholesterol content of 3250%.