When you search for foods by name in MacrosFirst, the search results will be presented to you in four categories:
Recent Foods are those that you’ve recently logged.
Saved Foods are custom foods that you’ve created and saved to your account
Core Foods are those in our global database where the nutrition information is derived from rigorous lab testing, offering the most detailed and complete nutrient data available.
Branded Foods are those where the nutrition information is sourced from the food’s nutrition label. Barcode scans exclusively search the branded food category.
Both Core Foods and Branded Foods are fully verified, meaning their nutrition data comes from trusted sources like the testing laboratory or the food manufacturer, respectively, but there a subtle differences between the two. This article explores those differences and the benefits of each food type to consider when logging.
Core Foods consists of over 28,000 highly accurate, lab-tested food entries that provide the most complete nutrient profiles available. These foods come from trusted sources such as the USDA and an academic food database commonly used for scientific research, where foods are tested in the laboratory to create detailed nutrient panels far beyond what’s shown on a standard nutrition label.
Unlike branded foods, Core Foods do not support barcode scanning and can only be found through name search. You’ll recognize them in search results under the Core Foods category.
A typical packaged food label includes 14 nutrients: usually calories, macronutrients, and a few vitamins and minerals that manufacturers are required to list. Core Foods typically include all 57 nutrients MacrosFirst reports on, covering dozens of additional vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, amino acids, and other nutrients that are not shown on standard food labels.
Another key difference is precision. Nutrition labels round values (often to the nearest 5 calories or whole gram), which can lead to small inaccuracies. Core Foods reports the exact quantity of each nutrient observed during lab testing, giving you the most precise data available. For this reason, it’s expected that you may notice small differences between the same food in Core vs Branded.
Our Branded Foods database consists of 3+ million foods, with nutrition information provided by the food manufacturer via the nutrition label.
Branded Foods also includes some common, or generic foods; however, the nutrient information may not be as complete as compared to the Core Foods dataset.
You can’t go wrong with either option since both Branded Foods and Core Foods are verified and accurate.
Here’s how to decide:
You want the most complete nutrient breakdown possible
You’re tracking or monitoring micronutrients closely
You’re trying to fill gaps in data completeness within the Top Sources screen.
Precision matters more to you than convenience
You prefer the speed and convenience of barcode scanning
You’re looking for product-specific entries (e.g., Trader Joe’s, Kirkland, or a specific brand)
You prefer knowing that the food’s nutrient data exactly matches the nutrition label.
Both serve their purpose. Core Foods offer depth and completeness, while branded foods offer convenience and greater brand specificity.
If you're using the new Micronutrient Reporting features, Core Foods can help provide the richest, most complete nutrition data. When a branded food doesn’t report certain nutrients, Core Foods can help “fill in the gaps” so your daily nutrient totals are as accurate as possible.
Core Foods gives you access to highly accurate, lab-tested nutrient data that goes far beyond the nutrition facts label. You can use them whenever you want deeper insight into your food, or stick with branded foods for speed and convenience — the choice is yours.
Both sources are reliable. One gives you maximum detail; the other, maximum convenience. And you can mix and match anytime.
And no matter which you choose, your Recents list in food search will keep track of everything you eat, both Core and Branded, so your go-to foods are always presented at the top of your search results for easy access.
