Food Database Errors

julien999
julien999 Posts: 41 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Hi Guys,
Can I please request that everyone double check nutritional values before entering them in the Food Database. I have been noticing a ton of inaccurate information lately and its ultimately making the Database useless.
For example Tim Hortons Medium Double Double is 210Calories based on their website nutritional values, someone keeps entering it as 110Calories. this is just one example but I would be willing to bet at least 25% of the entries are incorrect. If you have time please correct items and before entering anything to the public database double check with the restaurant or producers website/packaging.

Replies

  • risak
    risak Posts: 79 Member
    I've noticed the same thing. Even the chicken breast entries vary greatly. I'm starting to lose trust in the database and have to double check everything.
  • arbalest
    arbalest Posts: 3 Member
    Today, I searched for Trader Joe's Five Spice Chicken and Asian Noodle Salad and found 21 entries. The difference between the database and the package I had in my hand (the range of errors) was from 20 calories to 170 calories -- per serving/package. Even entries with 11 confirmations are way off. Perhaps TJ is changing the product.

    None of my options are ideal. Change one? Then I still have to verify that I picked the right one every time. Add a new one with the correct information? Then there will be 22 to choose from and I will still have to check them all.

    One idea for MFP is to modify the text that tells you how many confirmations there are to include the DATE of the LAST confirmation. Then a search should return the matches in order of the most recent confirmation first. I know there will be flaws with this but it's a start/
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    I'd be willing to bet that way more than 25% of the entries are incorrect.
  • arbalest
    arbalest Posts: 3 Member
    I am saying that almost all were incorrect.
  • ashenriver
    ashenriver Posts: 498 Member
    I love the fact that you can which entries were made by MFP users* on the computer,

    but I hate that that option is not seen on the phone app.

    There are a few features on the app that are not available on the computer and vice versa.
  • Timelordlady85
    Timelordlady85 Posts: 797 Member
    This is why I enter my own food. Someone put Clementines as having no sugars. HAHAHA, I wish! I double check everything and the scanner on the phone app is awesome for accurately tracking foods too.
  • mamaleftwich
    mamaleftwich Posts: 256 Member
    I know, I really like the scanner option! It would be nice if restaurant menus had that option added! LOL
  • purplemurfy
    purplemurfy Posts: 95 Member
    Agreed. It is VERY frustrating to have to double, triple and quadruple check. It takes me forever to add a recipe because I check all the fresh items (meats, veggies, etc.) online and then try to find the right one that is entered in MFP instead of adding a new one. There should be some kind of approval process to confirm anything new that gets added. I realize that won't happen.....but some of these are WAY off and when you use it on the run which is why it is an app and probably how most of us use it....it could really mess up a day.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    This is why I enter my own food. Someone put Clementines as having no sugars. HAHAHA, I wish! I double check everything and the scanner on the phone app is awesome for accurately tracking foods too.

    ................and peanuts are low fat :laugh:

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