Warning! Errors in food data base!

slim4health56
slim4health56 Posts: 439 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Ugh! You might want to double check and reconfirm food item details in the mfp database. I've been loading up my sandwiches with .25 lbs of Butterball turkey pastrami because the database lists that weight at 80 calories (what a deal!!) The calories/nutrients were actually twice what was listed. No wonder I haven't been hungry! Ha!
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Replies

  • iquiltoo
    iquiltoo Posts: 246 Member
    I checked, and it lists butterball turkey pastrami one serving as two ounces for 80 calories. What you have mentioned, .25 lb, is a quarter pound which is 4 ounces.
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    add your own food, what your relying on are items other people have entered you can add your items yourself properly
  • slim4health56
    slim4health56 Posts: 439 Member
    I checked, and it lists butterball turkey pastrami one serving as two ounces for 80 calories. What you have mentioned, .25 lb, is a quarter pound which is 4 ounces.

    That is correct! I corrected the database about an hour ago to read 2 oz instead of .25 lbs so the next person wouldn't make the same mistake I've been making for a month! The listing in grams for the same product is correct also. Cheers!
  • julien999
    julien999 Posts: 41 Member
    I'm finding a TON of wrong values I have just changed Kraft Crunchy Peanut Butter, Six Star Whey Protein Cookies and Cream, and Activia yogurt. Its a bit frustrating having to double check everything. Im wondering if some products are different in different regions?
  • iquiltoo
    iquiltoo Posts: 246 Member
    I checked, and it lists butterball turkey pastrami one serving as two ounces for 80 calories. What you have mentioned, .25 lb, is a quarter pound which is 4 ounces.

    That is correct! I corrected the database about an hour ago to read 2 oz instead of .25 lbs so the next person wouldn't make the same mistake I've been making for a month! The listing in grams for the same product is correct also. Cheers!

    Oh okay, you hadn't mentioned that you had corrected it.
  • iquiltoo
    iquiltoo Posts: 246 Member
    I'm finding a TON of wrong values I have just changed Kraft Crunchy Peanut Butter, Six Star Whey Protein Cookies and Cream, and Activia yogurt. Its a bit frustrating having to double check everything. Im wondering if some products are different in different regions?

    I think that some are. I see a lot of items duplicated and when I check what the difference is, often they are just duplicates, but other times I see that some have put (Canada) after them and the values are different. Which is good as I am in Canada! And others I see look like duplicates but there is a difference in serving size or difference in calories. I am not too quick to change something because there are differences in package sizes and stuff too. You can always add your version of the product, and just keep it in your My Foods and not share it with the database (thereby not clogging it up with yet another version!) Since people all over the world use this site there are going to be lots of variations. MFP also doesn't clean up the database, so it's really user beware, and add your own to your My Foods.
  • sympha01
    sympha01 Posts: 942 Member
    I'm finding a TON of wrong values I have just changed Kraft Crunchy Peanut Butter, Six Star Whey Protein Cookies and Cream, and Activia yogurt. Its a bit frustrating having to double check everything. Im wondering if some products are different in different regions?

    I think that some are. I see a lot of items duplicated and when I check what the difference is, often they are just duplicates, but other times I see that some have put (Canada) after them and the values are different. Which is good as I am in Canada! And others I see look like duplicates but there is a difference in serving size or difference in calories. I am not too quick to change something because there are differences in package sizes and stuff too. You can always add your version of the product, and just keep it in your My Foods and not share it with the database (thereby not clogging it up with yet another version!) Since people all over the world use this site there are going to be lots of variations. MFP also doesn't clean up the database, so it's really user beware, and add your own to your My Foods.

    Actually with most of the (Canada) designated items, the difference is just a serving size based in metric measurements instead of Imperial. On US packaging, standard serving sizes are usually in whole ounces (for example), with a non-round number given in grams (usually as multiples of 28 but sometimes 30 LOL!). On Canadian packaging, I've noticed the standard serving sizes are in rounder numbers of grams.

    That being said, I do think some products do vary by region (especially country), more because of different regulations than differing regional tastes.
  • trackmyday1973
    trackmyday1973 Posts: 393 Member
    add your own food, what your relying on are items other people have entered you can add your items yourself properly

    What she said.

    I always add my own food. I feel better about it :)
  • ncmedic201
    ncmedic201 Posts: 540 Member
    I always check before I add items to my diary. Products change and people make mistakes.
  • windstar57
    windstar57 Posts: 41 Member
    I use what the package says or try to come as close as possible with ingredients when out at a restaurant…I usually order things that I can estimate easily and does not need a lot of different ingredients.

    Most deli products are 70 - 80 cal. 2 ounce serving. Cheese is usually 80-90 cals an ounce (or a slice if sliced regular).
    Keep your regular foods list handy and you can add to it knowing that your calorie count is pretty close to what it should be.


    If I need to use the universal MFP list, I try to go by the most cals that are listed for that particular food, then I won't be disappointed by the scale. :)
  • liya368
    liya368 Posts: 122 Member
    I get frustrated when I scan an item and the bar code is wrong. I don't get that. Manufacturer error?
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    I just get a bit frustrated, and it is my own fault, when I add something and realize that the person who input it only added calories or only added carbs. Now I try to take my time and double check against the package or website info. I will correct things that are left off occasionally though. I know McDonald's french fries have sodium, even when listed as "no salt".
  • favhrnstr
    favhrnstr Posts: 55
    I get frustrated when I scan an item and the bar code is wrong. I don't get that. Manufacturer error?

    this^^
  • stonel94
    stonel94 Posts: 550 Member
    there are different variations on products, look at what you're eating, take a look at the calories and main macros, and then look it up, if you don't find one that exactly matches, just add it yourself, it takes like less than a min and then you know it's correct. When it's things like meat or something that don't have nutriton facts (especially like meat dishes or side dishes eating out or something) when you can't add the recipe yourself or something then I like to look at a bunch of the listings for the food and see what the average calories and stuff is and then choose one. this is all a lot easier to do on the app btw
  • paulperryman
    paulperryman Posts: 839 Member
    YOu aren't warning people anything we don't already know about items in the food database, you shouldn't just go by what the MFP database sais anyway, 98% is user inputted foods which are incorrect or may vary greatly between producers, countries and alot is listed in weird measurements that dont tell you anything like 1 Slice

    Yeah ok so what is the users definition of 1 slice? Food should be input in there standard weights ie GRAMS, OZ, lbs for solids and Cups/ml's for powdered or liquids not Slices, 1/8 of a pie, 1 dish, 1 serving of a homemade item.. and above all Nutrient levels, even if it's a rough guide is better then something input with just Calories and nothing else.

    If the item has a * next to it, it was input by a user not MFP staff and no way in hell can we expect the staff to filter through the database and take out any invalid entries, that would take years.

    .
  • slim4health56
    slim4health56 Posts: 439 Member
    YOu aren't warning people anything we don't already know about items in the food database...

    .

    I'm glad that everyone else knows. I didn't. Have a great evening!
  • cjhex
    cjhex Posts: 10 Member
    I've only been here a short while and I've noticed errors but usually, there are multiple entires for the same food so I quickly grab the item, check it against the right entry and add it to my meal; next time, the right one is there ready and waiting to be added.
  • BonnieandClyde29
    BonnieandClyde29 Posts: 1,026 Member
    I've been scanning the barcodes if I can on most of my stuff! Love it!
  • Madele1ne
    Madele1ne Posts: 23 Member
    This can get pretty annoying for things that don't come in a package, eg I found 3 different listings for the calorie value of avocado.
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    It's annoying but it is down to regional differences and/or the manufacturer changing products slightly.

    PS Your dog. :-D
  • TeresaC79
    TeresaC79 Posts: 316 Member
    For an item to be added to the database, a person would have had to scan the item, it not be in the database, and they add it. They don't just automatically get added to the database based on the bar code.
  • TeresaC79
    TeresaC79 Posts: 316 Member
    No one should be scanning barcodes and assuming it is correct. The barcodes are still user inputted. I check everything. I do wish there was a way to delete things out of the database because with this many users all entering their own over and over, it is going to get to the point where the database becomes a beast with so much incorrect entires that it becomes more of a pain in the *kitten* to use than it should be.
  • NonnyMary
    NonnyMary Posts: 982 Member
    I have found things wrong. I cant remember the food but i know it had sodium and this one choice in the database said 0 sodium.

    So how are we to trust the food database here?

    what can we trust as far as true nutrients in a food?
  • kristafb
    kristafb Posts: 770 Member
    I check all the values when I do a search, they are often wrong. The thing that really gets me is when you use the bar code & they are still wrong! The other day I used the bar code for a frozen dinner & it came back as a can of baked beans. way off.
  • OneDimSim
    OneDimSim Posts: 188 Member
    add your own food, what your relying on are items other people have entered you can add your items yourself properly

    What she said.

    I always add my own food. I feel better about it :)

    i get your sentiment here, but the WHOLE REASON i chose MFP is convenience.....i don't want to spend over 10 minutes a day logging food....it is boring and time consuming.....convenience is key.
  • Momjogger
    Momjogger Posts: 750 Member
    I'm finding a TON of wrong values I have just changed Kraft Crunchy Peanut Butter, Six Star Whey Protein Cookies and Cream, and Activia yogurt. Its a bit frustrating having to double check everything. Im wondering if some products are different in different regions?

    No need to get frustrated. Like Maya said above, you are relying on other peoples entries. Scan bar codes yourself. Look up caloric values on your foods yourself. Do the leg work now and you won't have to worry about these problems later. Then when you save your own entries you can later on select the stuff you input and know its right because you did it. It may be tedious now but its well worth it.

    Sure, that is easy to SAY, but I am a busy mom of three kids and a dog with a full time job, house, graduate classes, helping my son search for colleges, and trying to be a fabulous wife to my hubby. I also fit in an hour of exercise every day and cook healthy food for everyone. I rely on this website to track my calories because it is convenient. I appreciate people fixing errors in the data base and I switched from spark people because this site is easier and quicker. Every little bit to make it easier helps.
  • nathalier71
    nathalier71 Posts: 570 Member
    I get frustrated when I scan an item and the bar code is wrong. I don't get that. Manufacturer error?
    Me too! I also hate that the same item can be there 2, 3 even 4 times with different information - drives me insane! =)
  • Going4Lean
    Going4Lean Posts: 1,078 Member
    That is why i always check what i am entering against the label.
  • challenger9509
    challenger9509 Posts: 286 Member
    I agree and I like the convenience and honestly why sometimes I leave some wiggle room. We may not always have exact measures in everyday life. :) just glad the OP knows to look for variances and adjustments.
  • TeresaC79
    TeresaC79 Posts: 316 Member
    PEOPLE - The entires are USER ENTERED - even the BAR CODES. USER ENTERED. Double check everything. The owners of the site didn't spend years entering all the food for you. Users have entered it all.

    I've found a lot of errors, but a lot of things right. Check to see how many users have said it is correct. If it is 0, double check that it is right.

    This is not that serious.

    (And for the record, also a busy mom of three, a dog, with a full time teaching job, a second job, selling and buying a house, while taking classes.)

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