Data quality
Methodology and transparency.
Swiss nutrition data. Precise, verifiable and always up to date. Every value on this site has a documented origin and method.
Swiss food composition database · FSVO / Agroscope
Nutrition values · example
per 100 gSalmon, cultured, raw: mixed method depending on the nutrient.
| Energy | 927 kJ / 223 kcalC |
| Fat | 15.9 gE |
| of which saturated fat | 2.3 gE |
| Carbohydrates | 0 gA |
| of which sugars | 0 gA |
| Dietary fibre | 0 gA |
| Protein | 19.9 gA |
| Salt (NaCl) | 0.1 gC |
Values from analytical laboratory measurements.
Values estimated from reliable, documented sources.
Values calculated using recognised rules (recipes, profiles).
The data journey, in four steps
Structured collection of data from official and scientific sources. Time-stamped source file, never modified.
Consistency checks, unit verification and anomaly detection. Any abnormal deviation blocks the import.
Harmonisation, completion and calculations following Swiss nutrition standards. No invented values: missing data stays “not available”.
Continuous publication through secure interfaces. Traceable and transparent: the source version appears on every page.
What this site publishes, and what it does not
datafood publishes composition: measured, estimated or calculated contents, exactly as they appear in the Swiss food composition database V7.1. The site publishes no health claims, no supposed benefit of any food, and no consumption advice. This boundary is checked automatically before every publication (blocking-term list), then reviewed by a human.
Reference values used
The displayed percentages (“% NRV”) relate each content to the nutrient reference values for adults of the Swiss ordinance on food information (FIC ordinance, annex 10): for instance 50 g of protein, 375 mg of magnesium or 800 mg of calcium per day. For fibre, the indicative value used is 30 g/day. The needs calculator relies on the Mifflin-St Jeor formula and the FSVO 2022 reference value frames; its method is shown on the tool page.
Origin of every value (A / E / C)
The indicators shown on hover come from the “Value derivation” column of the official file: a value without derivation is measured (A); “Estimation” yields estimated (E); automated or ingredient-based calculations yield calculated (C). Only one quantity is computed by us: the omega-3 content, the sum of the alpha-linolenic (ALA), eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids provided by the source. This content is always marked C. The source’s “traces” and “< x” entries are displayed verbatim, never converted to numbers.
Selecting similar foods (method v1.0)
The “similar foods” and “quick comparison” blocks are generated by a nutritional distance: a normalised Euclidean distance over eight major nutrients (energy, protein, fat, carbohydrates, fibre, calcium, iron, magnesium) between foods of the same subcategory (or family when the subcategory is too small). The two nearest neighbours are excluded when they are quasi-duplicates. Method and thresholds are versioned; any change is documented here.
Known limitations
- The database describes generic foods: the official file’s “Branded foods” sheet is deliberately excluded, and the composition of a specific product may differ from the generic average.
- “n/a” means the source does not provide the value; we never estimate it ourselves.
- The preparation state (raw, cooked, drained…) is part of each food’s official label and substantially changes the contents per 100 g.
- The site displays 22 of the database’s 45 components; the rest (cholesterol, iodine, selenium, vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, E…) will be added in batches.
Correction policy
A reported error is checked against the official source and corrected within 48 hours, with a correction note. To report a value: contact page. If the error comes from the source itself, it is reported to the FSVO and flagged temporarily.