How to submit a new food to the reference data source?

What happens when you submit a food?

When you scan a barcode that isn't in our database, you can create the food yourself. Once you save it, it's available for you to use straight away as a custom food, and our team reviews it in the background before adding it to the shared database for everyone.

Photos make a big difference. Adding a photo of the nutrition panel and the front of pack helps us verify your submission faster and more accurately.

How to create and submit a food

1. Search for the food

Open Easy Diet Diary and search for the food by name or barcode. If it doesn't come up, tap Create food.

2. Fill in the food details

Everything happens on one screen, add what you can, in any order:

• Photos — add a photo of the nutrition panel and the front of pack
• Name — include the brand and variant (e.g. "Chobani Greek Yoghurt Strawberry", not just "Yoghurt")
• Serving size — in grams or millilitres
• Nutrients — enter values per serve, using the "Quantity per serving" column on the pack (not "per 100g")

Only Name, Serving Size, and Energy are required fields, you can fill in as many of the rest as you can.

3. Save

Tap Save. The food is now created and ready to use.

4. Add it to your diary

You'll land on the Add to diary screen. Enter the amount and serving measure (e.g. "1 serve") and tap Add to log it for today. This step is separate from saving the food, so don't skip it if you want it counted in today's diary.

Tips for good photos

Submissions that include a photo of the nutrition information panel and the front of pack are verified significantly faster and more accurately than submissions without photos. If you can take two photos, your food will almost always be added correctly. 

• Lay the pack flat on a table in natural light. Avoid flash, it usually causes glare.
• Keep the camera parallel to the pack, not angled.
• Make sure the whole nutrition panel is in frame, from the heading to the last row.
• Get close enough that the text is sharp, but not so close that edges get cut off.
• If it's blurry or hard to read, retake it, a clear photo is worth the extra few seconds

Good example: A close, clear photo of the NIP on the back of a yoghurt pouch, taken flat on a bench with a window nearby for light. All rows are visible and the text is sharp. A clear image of the front of pack and the product name and details. 

Not ideal: A photo where the flash has created a white glare across the middle of the table, making several rows unreadable. Or a photo taken from too far away where the numbers are too small to make out. Distorted and difficult to read front of pack.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to take photos? Photos are optional, but they make a significant difference to how quickly and accurately your food gets added to the database. If you're able to take two photos: 1. front of pack and 2. the nutrition panel, that's the most helpful thing you can do.

What if my photo comes out blurry or the lighting is bad? Try again. A clear photo is worth the extra few seconds. If the packaging is very shiny, try turning off your flash and using natural light instead.

I entered a value but I'm not sure it's right; what should I do? Submit what you have. Our team reviews every submission before it goes into the database, so if something looks off we'll catch it. A photo of the NIP helps us verify your values independently.

Why does my food show up in my diary straight away but not in the search results? Your submitted food is saved to your personal food list immediately so you can use it right away. It only appears in the shared search results after our team has reviewed and verified it.

What happens to my submission if I don't include photos? We'll still receive your submission and our team will review the values you entered. Without a photo, we may not be able to independently verify the data, which can slow down the review process. In some cases we may wait until a photo submission comes in before adding the food to the shared database.

How long does it take for my food to appear in the database? This varies depending on how complete your submission is. Submissions with clear photos of both the front of pack and the nutrition panel are typically verified much faster. We don't have a guaranteed timeframe, but complete submissions of the most popular foods are always prioritised.