# Edamam MCP > Edamam gives your agent access to a massive food intelligence database, covering over 2.3 million recipes and 900,000+ individual food items. Need to plan meals around specific diets? Want detailed calorie counts for complex ingredients? This MCP handles everything from searching by cuisine type or filtering for vegan options, to scientifically analyzing the macros of any ingredient list. ## Overview - **Category:** scientific-research - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** recipe-search, nutrition-analysis, food-database, dietary-tracking, meal-planning ## Description Edamam connects your AI client directly to professional-grade nutrition data. You don't need to manage a recipe database; you just ask your agent what you want—a meal plan for a keto week, or ingredients that match a specific allergen profile—and it finds the answer. The service lets you search through millions of recipes using keywords and detailed filters like 'high-protein' or 'low-carb'. It also provides deep nutritional breakdowns: calculating calories, fats, proteins, and micronutrients from any list of ingredients. You can look up packaged goods by UPC code, giving you raw data on everything from restaurant sides to supermarket items. Because Vinkius manages the connections, your agent accesses this entire food intelligence library whether you're building a health app or just planning dinner tonight. ## Tools ### analyze_nutrition Calculates the total calories, fats, proteins, and micronutrients for a specified recipe. ### parse_food Retrieves detailed data on a specific food item from the vast internal database using names or UPC codes. ### search_recipes Searches through millions of recipes, allowing filtering by keywords, dietary restrictions, and cuisine types. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Search for high-protein chicken recipes with an Asian cuisine type. ``` **Response:** ``` I found several high-protein Asian chicken recipes, including 'Thai Basil Chicken' and 'Ginger Soy Steamed Chicken'. Would you like the full ingredient list for one of these? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Analyze the nutrition for 100g of oats, 1 banana, and 200ml of almond milk. ``` **Response:** ``` Based on those ingredients, the total is approximately 540 calories, with 82g of carbohydrates, 12g of protein, and 14g of fat. It is also high in fiber and potassium. ``` **Prompt:** ``` Look up the nutritional data for 'Greek Yogurt' in the food database. ``` **Response:** ``` I've retrieved the data for Greek Yogurt. A standard serving contains high protein levels and active cultures. I can also provide specific brand data if you have a UPC code. ``` ## Capabilities ### Search recipe ideas Find recipes across millions of entries using keywords, dietary labels, and cuisine types. ### Analyze ingredient macros Get detailed nutritional facts for any combination of ingredients or a full recipe. ### Identify specific food items Look up data on over 900,000 foods using names, UPC codes, or general descriptions. ## Use Cases ### Planning a post-workout meal A client needs recipes that are high in protein and low in fat. The agent uses `search_recipes` to narrow the options, then automatically invokes `analyze_nutrition` on the top results so you can show them the exact macro counts. ### Verifying a recipe's ingredients You receive an old family recipe with vague ingredient names. You use the agent to run those items through `parse_food` first, standardizing the data, before running it through `analyze_nutrition` to give accurate macro counts. ### Comparing store-bought goods You are shopping for alternatives. You simply ask your agent to check two different brands of yogurt using `parse_food`. It returns the specific nutritional data points side-by-side, letting you make a choice. ## Benefits - Get targeted recipe lists: Use `search_recipes` to pull millions of recipes filtered exactly by what your client needs, like vegan or low-carb meals. - Pinpoint nutritional details: Instead of guessing, use `analyze_nutrition` to get precise breakdowns of calories and macros for any ingredient mix. - Database lookup power: The `parse_food` tool lets you look up nearly any packaged good or raw ingredient by name or UPC code. This is huge for accuracy. - Dietary compliance assurance: You can filter results based on allergens and specific nutritional goals, ensuring your recommendations are safe and effective. - Workflow acceleration: By using this MCP within Vinkius, you bypass building a massive local food database yourself. ## How It Works The bottom line is that your agent handles all the complex data lookups behind the scenes, giving you only the final result. 1. Subscribe to the MCP and enter your Edamam Application ID and Key. 2. Your AI client sends a query—for example, 'I need high-protein recipes for dinner.' 3. The MCP uses the necessary tools in sequence (like searching first, then analyzing nutrition) and returns one cohesive answer. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Can I search for recipes based on specific dietary restrictions like gluten-free or vegan?** Yes! Use the `search_recipes` tool and specify your requirements in the `health` or `diet` parameters to filter for labels like 'vegan', 'gluten-free', or 'low-carb'. **How do I get a detailed nutritional breakdown for a list of ingredients?** You can use the `analyze_nutrition` tool. Simply provide an array of ingredient strings (e.g., ['1 cup of flour', '2 eggs']), and the agent will return calories and nutrient levels. **Can I look up specific food items or products using their name or UPC?** Yes, the `parse_food` tool allows you to look up data for over 900,000 foods by entering the food name or a UPC barcode string. **What credentials do I need before running any tool like `search_recipes`?** You must provide an Edamam Application ID and Key. Your agent needs these specific credentials to connect to the service, so ensure they are configured in your MCP client settings first. **Are there rate limits when I call `parse_food` repeatedly?** Yes, API rate limits apply. If you hit a limit, your agent will receive an error code. You'll need to build logic into your workflow that implements retries and waits before trying the lookup again. **What’s the best process for using both `search_recipes` and `analyze_nutrition`?** First, use `search_recipes` to find potential meals based on keywords. Once you select a recipe, pass its specific ingredients list or nutritional data directly to `analyze_nutrition` for a precise breakdown. **Can the system handle recipes with unusual or raw ingredients when using `analyze_nutrition`?** The tool performs best with established food items. If you have an ingredient not in the database, try to find its standardized name or use `parse_food` first; this helps improve data accuracy. **How secure is my usage data when I run queries through the MCP?** Vinkius manages all connections securely using your unique credentials. The system only passes structured tool calls, meaning your API keys stay confined and are never exposed in plain text.