The German Nutrient Database (BLS): why official nutrition data is more accurate
Every calorie app is only as good as its nutrition data. The Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel is Germany’s scientific reference – here is what it contains, where the values come from and when you are better off reading the label.
FoodScope editorial team5 min read
The Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel (BLS, German Nutrient Database) is Germany’s national food composition database, published by the Max Rubner-Institut (MRI), the Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food. The current version 4.0 contains 7,140 foods with up to 138 components each – from calories and macronutrients to vitamins, minerals and fatty acids. The values are based on laboratory analyses, scientific literature and recipe calculations, their origin is documented, and they consistently refer to 100 g of the edible part.
What is the Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel?
- Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel (BLS)
- Germany’s national food composition database. It describes the average composition of foods and dishes as they are eaten in Germany and is maintained by the Max Rubner-Institut.
The BLS has been developed for decades and is the standard basis for nutrition research, dietary counselling and many nutrition programs in Germany – including the German National Nutrition Survey. The Max Rubner-Institut provides the current version 4.0 for free use.
| Feature | BLS 4.0 |
|---|---|
| Foods and dishes | 7,140 |
| Components per food | up to 138 |
| Reference amount | 100 g edible part |
| Publisher | Max Rubner-Institut (MRI), Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food |
How the BLS is structured
Every food has a BLS code made of a letter and six characters. The letter stands for the main group – F for fruit, G for vegetables, M for milk and dairy, X and Y for dishes – and the following characters distinguish variety, processing and preparation. Raw banana, for example, has the code F503100. Raw and cooked foods are separate entries, such as raw potatoes and boiled potatoes.
Each food includes, among other things:
- Energy in kcal and kJ as well as water and alcohol
- Macronutrients: protein, fat, carbohydrates, sugar, starch and fibre
- Fatty acids: saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, cholesterol
- Vitamins: A, D, E, K, the B vitamins and vitamin C
- Minerals and trace elements: for example sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and iodine
Where do the values come from?
- Laboratory analyses of foods
- Scientific literature and nutrition data from other countries
- Recipe calculations for composite foods and dishes from the values of their ingredients
The source of every value is documented. If a component is only present in traces or was not determined, this is shown – instead of entering a zero.
BLS or community database?
Many calorie apps let users create entries themselves. That makes the database big, but also error-prone:
| Criterion | BLS | User-generated databases |
|---|---|---|
| Origin of values | analyses, literature, calculation – documented | user entries, often typed off the label |
| Duplicates | one entry per food and preparation | often many entries with different values |
| Nutrient coverage | up to 138 components | usually calories and macros only |
| Branded products | no – generic foods | yes, often via barcode |
For branded products, the nutrition label on the package is the best source. For unpackaged foods – fruit, vegetables, meat, bread from the bakery – and home-cooked dishes, the BLS is the more reliable basis.
Limits: averages, not lab values of your plate
- Natural variation: variety, ripeness, season and origin change the composition. A BLS value is a well-founded average.
- Preparation: cooking mainly changes the water content – 100 g of cooked rice have far fewer calories than 100 g of uncooked rice. Always pick the matching entry.
- Dishes: recipes vary. A standard lasagne recipe won’t match every lasagne.
How FoodScope uses the BLS
FoodScope’s calorie chart shows the BLS 4.0 values for all 7,140 foods, with vitamins, minerals and typical serving sizes for popular foods. In the photo check, the AI recognises the ingredients and estimates the amounts – it does not make up nutrition values but picks them from real BLS entries.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel?
The Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel (BLS) is Germany’s national food composition database. Version 4.0 contains 7,140 foods with up to 138 components per 100 g of edible part.
Who publishes the BLS?
The Max Rubner-Institut (MRI), Germany’s Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, based in Karlsruhe.
Is the German Nutrient Database free?
The Max Rubner-Institut provides the current version 4.0 for free use. You can look up all values free of charge in the FoodScope calorie chart.
How accurate are BLS values?
They are well-documented averages. Individual foods differ by variety, ripeness or preparation, but for everyday tracking the values are more than accurate enough – the bigger source of error is usually the estimated amount.