# FatSecret Platform MCP MCP > FatSecret Platform connects your AI agent directly to a vast database of food and recipe data. It lets you search for ingredients by name, look up full nutritional breakdowns—including calories, fats, and proteins—or identify products using UPC barcodes (UPC/EAN). Need to audit recipes or check macros? Find whole meals by keyword and pull detailed preparation steps; the agent handles all the lookup work without you ever opening a diet app. ## Overview - **Category:** data-analytics - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** nutritional-data, dietary-tracking, food-database, recipe-analysis, health-monitoring ## Description This MCP lets your AI agent handle complex nutritional research. Instead of manually searching through multiple food tracking sites, your agent accesses thousands of records to perform deep dives into ingredients and recipes. You can ask it to find what's in 'apple pie,' or check the macro profile for a specific brand-name snack using its barcode. It’s basically having an expert dietitian sitting next to you, providing real-time data validation against industry standards. Because this MCP is hosted on Vinkius, your agent gets instant access to the entire catalog of external tools, making it simple to keep nutritional intelligence organized and actionable in one place. ## Tools ### get_food_by_barcode Looks up a product's full details when provided with its UPC or EAN barcode number. ### get_food_details Pulls the detailed nutrient profile (macros, vitamins) for a specific food ID. ### get_recipe_details Retrieves preparation instructions and full nutritional facts for a known recipe. ### list_food_categories Lists the main, high-level groupings of food items available in the database. ### search_foods Searches for ingredient names across the entire fatsecret database. ### search_recipes Finds recipes based on general keywords or ingredients. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` Search for 'avocado' in FatSecret and show me the nutrient details. ``` **Response:** ``` I've retrieved several entries for avocado. A standard serving contains about 160 calories and 15g of healthy fats. Would you like the full breakdown for a specific weight? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Find healthy recipes with 'salmon'. ``` **Response:** ``` I've found 5 healthy salmon recipes. Notable options include 'Grilled Salmon with Asparagus' and 'Lemon Baked Salmon'. Would you like the preparation steps or nutritional metadata? ``` **Prompt:** ``` What food corresponds to barcode 0748927020108? ``` **Response:** ``` I've identified that barcode as 'Quest Bar - Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough'. I can retrieve the full nutritional profile for this product if you'd like. ``` ## Capabilities ### Search for food items Find ingredients across a massive database using keywords. ### Get deep nutrient reports Retrieve detailed nutritional data, including fats, proteins, and calories, for any specific food ID. ### Identify products by barcode Look up a product's exact details using its UPC or EAN code. ### List high-level food groups See the main categories of nutritional data available in the database. ### Search for recipes Find whole meal ideas or dishes based on general keywords like 'salmon' or 'vegan'. ### Get recipe details Pull the complete nutritional breakdown and preparation steps for a specific recipe. ## Use Cases ### Client check-in: Tracking a sudden dietary change A coach asks the agent about an unexpected snack. The agent uses `get_food_by_barcode` on the UPC code, retrieving immediate macro data for the client to review with confidence. ### Recipe comparison: Finding a healthier alternative A user wants to make 'salmon' but needs it lower in fat. The agent first runs `search_recipes` and then uses `get_recipe_details` on several results, allowing the user to compare nutrient profiles side-by-side. ### Data validation: Checking a third-party dataset A developer needs to ensure their app's food database matches industry standards. They run `search_foods` for common items and use `get_food_details` on the top 10 results to validate accuracy. ### Cross-functional planning: Building a new meal guide An operations lead wants to create content. The agent first uses `list_food_categories` for structure, then runs `search_foods` repeatedly to gather primary ingredients and their corresponding nutrient data. ## Benefits - Stop guessing about macros. When you need a detailed breakdown, the agent uses `get_food_details` to pull precise nutrient information for any known food ID. - No more manual UPC lookups. Just give your agent a barcode number, and it runs `get_food_by_barcode` to instantly identify the product and its full data set. - Need to build out an app? Use `list_food_categories` to get an overview of the available food types before you start coding or asking questions. - Designing a meal plan? The agent can combine searches. It uses `search_foods` to find ingredients, then feeds those results into `get_food_details` for validation. - Auditing competitor recipes? Use `search_recipes` and then `get_recipe_details` to pull preparation steps and macro counts instantly. ## How It Works The bottom line is that you talk to your agent like a person, and it handles all the complicated database calls behind the scenes. 1. Subscribe to this MCP, then enter your unique FatSecret Client ID and Secret. 2. Your agent automatically registers this access with your preferred AI client (Claude, Cursor, etc.). 3. You simply ask the agent a question—like 'What are the macros for chocolate chip cookies?'—and it executes the necessary lookups to give you an answer. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How does the FatSecret Platform MCP use barcodes?** It uses `get_food_by_barcode` to look up a product's exact details. This is better than searching by name because it guarantees you pull the data for that specific, branded item. **Can I use the search_recipes tool if I only know one ingredient?** Yes. While `search_recipes` accepts keywords, your agent can combine this with `search_foods`. You find common ingredients first to narrow down what recipes might exist. **What's the difference between search_foods and get_food_details?** `search_foods` finds items by name. It gives you a list of candidates, but `get_food_details` requires a specific food ID to pull the deep nutrient profile for that one item. **Does FatSecret Platform MCP cover global cuisine?** The platform covers thousands of food items and recipes. If you can name it, chances are your agent can find its nutritional data using `search_foods` or `get_food_by_barcode`. **What information does `list_food_categories` provide for structuring my search?** It provides a high-level list of all available food groupings. This allows your agent to narrow down nutritional research before running complex queries like those using `search_foods`. It helps you understand the data structure first. **After finding recipes with `search_recipes`, how do I get full preparation details?** You need to use `get_recipe_details` and provide the specific recipe ID. This tool retrieves comprehensive metadata, including ingredient lists, preparation steps, and the full nutritional breakdown for that item. **What credentials do I need when calling the `get_food_by_barcode` tool?** You must provide your FatSecret Client ID and Client Secret during setup. These credentials authenticate your agent, giving it the necessary permissions to access specific product data via the MCP connection. **If I run multiple food audits using `get_food_details`, should I worry about performance limits?** The system handles high volume requests efficiently. However, if you plan continuous, heavy querying, watch for rate limit warnings in your agent's logs to optimize batch processing.