Foundation Foods MCP Server 🔌

MCP server to provide models context around the USDA's Foundation Foods database

Usage 💻

This MCP server can operate in two distinct modes:

1. STDIO Mode (Local Claude Desktop Integration)

• Use case: Local development and Claude Desktop integration
• Command: ./foundation-foods-mcp-server --stdio
• Transport: stdio pipes
• Authentication: None required
• Perfect for: Claude Desktop, local development, testing

2. HTTP Mode (Remote Deployment)

• Use case: Remote MCP server accessible over the internet
• Command: ./foundation-foods-mcp-server (default mode)
• Transport: HTTP with JSON-RPC 2.0
• Authentication: Bearer token required (except /health endpoint)
• Perfect for: Shared deployments, cloud hosting, team access, mcp as a service

Demo 📹

Check out the related project noot-app/openfoodfacts-mcp-server for a near identical MCP server with a demo video showcasing its capabilities and how to use it with Claude Desktop.

How It Works 💡

This MCP server provides access to the USDA Foundation Foods database through three specialized tools, each designed for different use cases and levels of detail.

Available Tools 🛠️

1. search_foundation_foods_by_name

Basic food search with complete data

• Purpose: Search for foods and get comprehensive food information
• Returns: Complete food details including all available nutrients
• Best for: Detailed nutritional analysis, research, when you need all available data
• Example: Get complete nutritional profile for "milk" including every measured nutrient

2. search_foundation_foods_and_return_nutrients

Customizable nutrient filtering

• Purpose: Search for foods with customizable nutrient selection
• Returns: Essential nutrient data (name, amount, unit) for specified nutrients only
• Customization: Accepts nutrients_to_include parameter to filter which nutrients to return
• Best for: Targeted nutritional queries, meal planning, when you want specific nutrients
• Example: Get only protein, calcium, and vitamin D data for "milk"

3. search_foundation_foods_and_return_nutrients_simplified

Fixed high-value nutrients (no customization)

• Purpose: Search with a fixed, optimized set of essential nutrients
• Returns: Default nutrient set
• Optimization: Pre-selected nutrients based on comprehensive data analysis
• Best for: Consistent results, general nutrition tracking, when you want the "best" nutrients without customization
• Example: Get the top nutrients for "milk" - always the same essential nutrients

Local Setup for Claude Desktop (STDIO Mode)

This setup uses STDIO mode for local Claude Desktop integration.

1. Build the Binary

script/build --simple

2. Configure Claude Desktop

Add this to your Claude Desktop MCP settings (~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json on macOS):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "foundationfoods": {
      "command": "/path/to/foundation-foods-mcp-server",

... [View full README on GitHub](https://github.com/noot-app/foundation-foods-mcp-server#readme)