Mealary
The Mealary blog

Nutrition labeling, done right

Practical, accurate guides on FDA labels, recipe nutrition math, cottage food rules, and building with the nutrition API — written for food businesses and developers.

USDA FoodData Central database update showing Foundation Foods, SR Legacy, and Branded Foods data typesNews
USDANutritionAPIDevelopers

USDA FoodData Central's Latest Update, Explained

USDA FoodData Central just released its June 2026 update. Here's what changed, how big the database is now, and why the update cadence matters.

7 min readRead →
FDA nutrition label regulations in 2026, including the pending front-of-package labeling proposed ruleNews
FDAComplianceLabelingNutrition

FDA Nutrition Label Rules in 2026: Where Things Stand

FDA nutrition label regulations in 2026: the pending front-of-package proposal, the final 'healthy' rule, and where enforcement really stands.

8 min readRead →
Annotated FDA Nutrition Facts label showing serving size, calories, and %Daily Value — nutrition facts label guideAcademy
FDALabelingNutritionHow-to

The Nutrition Facts Label: A Complete Guide to Every Line

Every line on the Nutrition Facts label explained: serving size, calories, %DV, and all 15 mandatory nutrients under the current FDA format.

10 min readRead →
Comparison of Nutritionix API, Edamam API, and the Mealary nutrition API and MCP server for developersReviews
APIDevelopersMCP

Nutritionix API vs Edamam API vs Mealary: For Developers

Nutritionix API vs Edamam API vs Mealary's API and MCP server, compared for developers: data sourcing, request shape, rate limits, and AI agent support.

9 min readRead →
Comparison of nutrition label maker and food label generator tools for small food businesses in 2026Reviews
ComparisonLabelingSmall Business

Best Nutrition Label Generator in 2026: 7 Options Compared

Comparing the best nutrition label maker options for 2026 — data sources, free tiers, and who each tool actually suits. An honest buyer's guide.

9 min readRead →
Side-by-side comparison of Mealary, ReciPal, and Nutritionix nutrition label generator toolsReviews
ComparisonAPISmall Business

Mealary vs ReciPal vs Nutritionix: Which Fits You in 2026?

A nutrition label maker vs ReciPal and Nutritionix comparison — data sources, free tiers, and API access, so you can pick the right fit fast.

7 min readRead →
Supplement Facts label panel next to a Nutrition Facts label, illustrating 21 CFR 101.36 formatting differencesAcademy
FDAComplianceLabelingSupplements

Supplement Facts Label: A Complete 21 CFR 101.36 Guide

A Supplement Facts label generator guide to 21 CFR 101.36 formatting, the DSHEA disclaimer, and how it differs from a Nutrition Facts panel.

7 min readRead →
FDA nutrition label guidelines checklist showing Daily Value figures and dual-column formatting rulesAcademy
FDAComplianceLabelingUSDA

FDA Nutrition Label Guidelines: Daily Values & Formatting

The FDA nutrition label guidelines that trip up small producers: current Daily Values, dual-column rules, and the rounding mistakes to avoid.

7 min readRead →
Step-by-step process of making a nutrition label from a recipe's ingredient list to a printed FDA panelAcademy
How-toFDANutritionUSDA

How to Make a Nutrition Label: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to make a nutrition label from a recipe, step by step: serving size, USDA data, 21 CFR 101.9 rounding, allergens, and export.

9 min readRead →
Food ingredient label showing descending-order ingredient list and a 'Contains' allergen statement for the big 9 allergensAcademy
LabelingComplianceFDAHow-to

Ingredient Label Requirements: Order, Allergens & Contains

What every ingredient label maker needs to get right: descending order of predominance, the big 9 allergens, and the FALCPA 'Contains' line.

7 min readRead →
Person reading a nutrition label on a food package, highlighting serving size, %Daily Value, and added sugarsAcademy
NutritionHow-to

How to Read a Nutrition Label (Without a Nutrition Degree)

A plain-English guide to reading nutrition labels: serving size, %DV, added vs total sugars, sodium, and comparing products fairly.

6 min readRead →
Recipe macro calculator breakdown showing protein, carbohydrate, and fat grams per servingAcademy
NutritionHow-toUSDA

Recipe Macro Calculator: Tracking Protein, Carbs & Fat

How a recipe macro calculator works: the maths behind protein, carbs and fat per serving, a worked example, and why recipes are harder than single foods.

8 min readRead →
Weekly meal prep containers with a per-portion nutrition calculator breakdown of calories and macrosAcademy
NutritionHow-toSmall Business

Meal Prep Nutrition Calculator: Planning Per-Portion Macros

A meal nutrition calculator walkthrough for weekly batch cooking: consistent portioning, per-meal macro targets, and what a small meal-prep business must get right.

7 min readRead →
Developer adding nutrition API and MCP server data to an app or AI agent, backed by USDA FoodData CentralAcademy
APIDevelopersMCPAgents

Adding Nutrition Data to Your App or AI Agent: A Nutrition API Guide

How to add real, cited nutrition data to an app or AI agent with the Mealary API and MCP server — a working curl example, the response shape, and the analyze_recipe / generate_label / search_foods / get_food tools.

8 min readRead →
Checklist for evaluating what a free nutrition label generator actually includes before you use it commerciallyReviews
Small BusinessCottage FoodLabeling

Free Nutrition Label Generator: What 'Free' Really Means

What a free nutrition label generator actually includes — watermarks, caps, and paywalled exports — before you rely on one for a real launch.

7 min readRead →
Cottage food label template checklist showing the standard elements required on a homemade food packageAcademy
Cottage FoodComplianceLabelingSmall Business

Cottage Food Label Template: What to Include (2026)

The cottage food label template checklist every home producer needs, plus the 2025-2026 state law changes proving why you must verify your own state's rules.

8 min readRead →
FDA Nutrition Facts label requirements checklist for small food businesses under 21 CFR 101.9Academy
FDAComplianceLabeling

FDA Nutrition Facts Label Requirements (2026): A Practical Guide for Small Food Businesses

Who needs a Nutrition Facts label, what the 2016 format requires, the 21 CFR 101.9 rounding rules, serving sizes and RACC, allergen 'Contains' statements, and the small-business exemptions.

10 min readRead →
Cottage food product label showing when a Nutrition Facts label is and isn't required under FDA exemptionsAcademy
Cottage FoodComplianceSmall Business

Do Cottage Food Products Need a Nutrition Label?

Cottage food laws vs. FDA labeling: when a home-based food business needs a Nutrition Facts panel, when it's exempt, what your label must say regardless, and how to make one.

8 min readRead →
Step-by-step diagram showing how to calculate nutrition facts for a recipe from USDA ingredient dataAcademy
How-toNutritionUSDA

How to Calculate Nutrition Facts for a Recipe (Step by Step)

The actual method behind a Nutrition Facts panel: look up each ingredient in a food database, convert everything to grams, sum the nutrients, divide by servings, and apply FDA rounding.

9 min readRead →