Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about Foodashi's API, billing, data quality, and more. Can't find what you're looking for? Contact us.
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Getting Started
Billing & Plans
Account
API & Technical
Data & Safety
Legal
Getting Started
What is Foodashi?
Foodashi is a Recipe & Food Data API built for developers. It provides AI-generated recipes, ingredient lists, nutritional estimates, allergen indicators, cooking instructions, and food imagery. Use it to power recipe apps, meal planners, food blogs, restaurant tools, and more. Our API runs on Cloudflare's global edge network for fast responses worldwide.
How do I get started?
Getting started takes under 2 minutes:
1. Create a free account (no credit card required).
2. Log in to the Developer Console and generate your API key.
3. Try the Test Kitchen to explore recipes in your browser — no code needed.
4. Make your first API call using the
5. Read the API Documentation for all endpoints, parameters, and examples.
The free Hobby plan gives you 10,000 requests per month to build and test your integration.
1. Create a free account (no credit card required).
2. Log in to the Developer Console and generate your API key.
3. Try the Test Kitchen to explore recipes in your browser — no code needed.
4. Make your first API call using the
X-Api-Key header.5. Read the API Documentation for all endpoints, parameters, and examples.
The free Hobby plan gives you 10,000 requests per month to build and test your integration.
Is there a free plan?
Yes! The Hobby plan is completely free and includes:
- 10,000 requests per month
- 30 requests per minute (RPM)
- 1 API key
- 22 core endpoints — recipe browsing, ingredient search, nutrition reference, and utilities
- Access to the Test Kitchen
What is the Test Kitchen?
The Test Kitchen is a browser-based tool that lets you explore Foodashi's recipe data without writing code. Search for recipes, view ingredient details, nutritional info, and allergen data — all through a visual interface. It's perfect for evaluating the API before integrating it into your application. Available on all plans including Hobby.
Do I need a credit card to sign up?
No. You can create a free Hobby account and start using the API immediately without entering any payment information. A credit card is only required when you upgrade to a paid plan (Indie, Pro, or Enterprise).
Billing & Plans
What plans are available and how much do they cost?
We offer four plans to fit any project size. All prices are in USD:
Yearly billing is available — get 2 months free (Indie $250/yr, Pro $900/yr). See the Pricing page for full details and feature comparison.
| Plan | Price | Requests/mo | RPM | API Keys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hobby | Free | 10,000 | 30 | 1 |
| Indie | $25/mo | 150,000 | 600 | 3 |
| Pro | $90/mo | 1,000,000 | 3,000 | 10 |
| Enterprise | Custom | 10,000,000+ | 10,000+ | Unlimited |
How does billing work?
Paid plans are billed on a monthly or yearly subscription via Stripe. Your card is charged automatically at the start of each billing period. You can view invoices, manage your subscription, and change plans from the Developer Console. All prices are in USD.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express) via Stripe. We also support iDEAL and SEPA Direct Debit for European customers. We never store your card details — all payment processing is handled securely by Stripe.
What happens if I exceed my monthly request limit?
When you reach your plan's monthly request limit, additional requests will return a
Indie and Pro plans can optionally enable overage billing in the Developer Console. When enabled, extra usage beyond your limit is billed per 1,000 usage credits ($0.50/1K for Indie, $0.30/1K for Pro) instead of being blocked. Most endpoints consume 1 credit per call, but heavier endpoints cost more: AI-powered endpoints (image recognition, meal plan generation, etc.) use 20–75 credits, vector search uses 3 credits, and heavy database endpoints use 2–5 credits. Full per-endpoint costs are shown in the documentation and Test Kitchen.
Hobby plan users must upgrade to increase their limits — no overage option is available.
429 Too Many Requests error until your limit resets at the start of your next billing period.Indie and Pro plans can optionally enable overage billing in the Developer Console. When enabled, extra usage beyond your limit is billed per 1,000 usage credits ($0.50/1K for Indie, $0.30/1K for Pro) instead of being blocked. Most endpoints consume 1 credit per call, but heavier endpoints cost more: AI-powered endpoints (image recognition, meal plan generation, etc.) use 20–75 credits, vector search uses 3 credits, and heavy database endpoints use 2–5 credits. Full per-endpoint costs are shown in the documentation and Test Kitchen.
Hobby plan users must upgrade to increase their limits — no overage option is available.
Can I switch plans (upgrade or downgrade)?
Yes, you can change plans at any time from the Developer Console:
Upgrades take effect immediately. You get instant access to higher limits and your billing is adjusted.
Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing period. You keep your current plan's limits until then, so you never lose access to time you've already paid for.
Upgrades take effect immediately. You get instant access to higher limits and your billing is adjusted.
Downgrades take effect at the end of your current billing period. You keep your current plan's limits until then, so you never lose access to time you've already paid for.
Can I cancel my subscription?
Yes, cancel anytime from the Developer Console. You have two options:
Turn off auto-renewal: Your access continues until the end of the current billing period, then downgrades to the free Hobby plan.
Cancel with refund (if eligible): Your subscription ends immediately and you receive a full or pro-rata refund based on when you were last charged. See our Refund Policy for eligibility windows.
Turn off auto-renewal: Your access continues until the end of the current billing period, then downgrades to the free Hobby plan.
Cancel with refund (if eligible): Your subscription ends immediately and you receive a full or pro-rata refund based on when you were last charged. See our Refund Policy for eligibility windows.
What is the refund policy?
We offer a tiered refund system — all processed automatically from the Developer Console (no support ticket needed):
Within 24 hours of any charge → full refund + immediate cancellation.
Days 2–14 after a charge → pro-rata refund for unused days + immediate cancellation.
After 14 days → no refund; cancel at end of billing period.
Refund amounts are based on what you actually paid (after any coupons or discounts). See the full Refund & Cancellation Policy.
Within 24 hours of any charge → full refund + immediate cancellation.
Days 2–14 after a charge → pro-rata refund for unused days + immediate cancellation.
After 14 days → no refund; cancel at end of billing period.
Refund amounts are based on what you actually paid (after any coupons or discounts). See the full Refund & Cancellation Policy.
My subscription renewed and I didn't want it to. What can I do?
If your subscription auto-renewed unexpectedly, you can cancel with a full refund within 24 hours of the renewal charge, or a pro-rata refund within 14 days. Go to the Developer Console and click "Cancel Subscription".
To prevent future surprise renewals, toggle off auto-renewal in the Developer Console before your next billing date.
To prevent future surprise renewals, toggle off auto-renewal in the Developer Console before your next billing date.
Account Management
How do I reset my password?
Click "Forgot your password?" on the login page. Enter your email address and you'll receive a password reset link. The link expires after 24 hours. If you don't see the email, check your spam/junk folder.
How do I manage my API keys?
Log in to the Developer Console to create, view, rename, or revoke API keys. The number of active keys depends on your plan:
- Hobby: 1 key
- Indie: up to 3 keys
- Pro: up to 10 keys
- Enterprise: unlimited keys
My API key isn't working. What should I check?
Common reasons an API key returns errors:
- Key is revoked or expired — check the Developer Console to confirm your key is active.
- Wrong header — use
X-Api-Key(notAuthorization). - Monthly limit reached — check your usage in the Console. You'll get a
429error. - Rate limit (RPM) exceeded — slow down requests. You'll get a
429error with aRetry-Afterheader. - Account suspended — check your email for a notice from Foodashi.
Can I change my email address?
Currently, email changes are not self-service. Please contact us from your registered email address and we'll update it for you. Your API keys and billing will transfer automatically.
How do I delete my account?
You can delete your account from the Developer Console under Account Settings. Deleting your account will:
- Permanently revoke all your API keys (immediate)
- Cancel any active subscription
- Delete your customer record and usage data
How do I check my current usage and remaining requests?
The Developer Console shows your real-time usage including:
- Requests used this billing period vs. your monthly limit
- Current plan tier and billing date
- Active API keys and their individual usage
- Subscription status and renewal date
API & Technical
How do I authenticate API requests?
Include your API key in the
Never expose your API key in client-side code, public repos, or any publicly accessible location. If you suspect a key has been compromised, revoke it immediately in the Developer Console and generate a new one.
X-Api-Key header with every request:X-Api-Key: your_api_key_hereNever expose your API key in client-side code, public repos, or any publicly accessible location. If you suspect a key has been compromised, revoke it immediately in the Developer Console and generate a new one.
What are the rate limits?
Each plan has both a monthly request quota and a per-minute rate limit (RPM):
When either limit is hit, you'll receive a
| Plan | Monthly Limit | RPM |
|---|---|---|
| Hobby | 10,000 | 30/min |
| Indie | 150,000 | 600/min |
| Pro | 1,000,000 | 3,000/min |
| Enterprise | 10,000,000+ | 10,000/min |
429 Too Many Requests response. Monthly limits reset at the start of your billing period. RPM limits reset every 60 seconds.
What response format does the API return?
All API responses are in JSON format. Every response includes structured fields for recipe data, nutritional information, allergen indicators, and metadata. Refer to the API Documentation for detailed schemas and example responses.
Is the API RESTful?
Yes. Foodashi provides a RESTful API accessible via standard HTTPS requests. All endpoints return JSON. The API is hosted on Cloudflare's global edge network, providing low-latency responses worldwide with built-in DDoS protection.
Can I cache API responses?
Limited, short-term caching for performance is permitted. However, you must not persistently cache, mirror, or index responses in a way that bypasses usage limits, creates a derivative database, or eliminates the need for future API calls. See the API License Agreement for full caching rules.
What happens if the API is down?
Foodashi targets high availability but does not guarantee 100% uptime. If the API is temporarily unavailable, requests may return a
503 response. We recommend implementing retry logic with exponential backoff in your application. We do not offer SLA-backed uptime guarantees on Hobby, Indie, or Pro plans. Enterprise customers can negotiate custom SLAs — contact us for details.
Do you have SDKs or client libraries?
Not yet — but the API is a standard REST API, so you can use it with any HTTP client in any language (Python
requests, JavaScript fetch, Go net/http, etc.). Check the Documentation for code examples in popular languages.
Is there a sandbox or test environment?
The Test Kitchen serves as an interactive sandbox where you can test queries and explore results in your browser. For API-level testing, use your Hobby plan key — it provides 10,000 free requests per month, which is sufficient for prototyping. All plans use the same production API; there is no separate staging environment.
Data Quality & Food Safety
Is the content AI-generated?
Yes. All recipes, nutritional data, allergen indicators, and food imagery returned by the Foodashi API are generated or augmented by artificial intelligence. AI-generated content may contain inaccuracies or omissions. You must independently verify all content before use, and disclose to your end users that the data is AI-generated. See our Terms of Service for full details.
How accurate is the nutritional information?
Nutritional data (calories, macronutrients, etc.) is estimated using reference datasets and standard calculation methods. These are approximations — actual values may vary based on specific ingredients, brands, preparation methods, and portion sizes. Nutritional data must be independently verified before use, especially for dietary, medical, or food labeling purposes.
Can I rely on Foodashi for allergen information?
No. All allergen information is automatically generated by AI and may be incomplete, inaccurate, or missing critical allergens. Allergen indicators do not account for cross-contamination, ingredient substitutions, or manufacturer-specific formulations.
You must not use Foodashi allergen data as the sole source for allergen guidance. Developers are required to independently verify all allergen information and display appropriate warnings to end users. See our Terms of Service (Section 5) for full details.
You must not use Foodashi allergen data as the sole source for allergen guidance. Developers are required to independently verify all allergen information and display appropriate warnings to end users. See our Terms of Service (Section 5) for full details.
Are the recipes safe to follow?
Recipes are AI-generated and must be reviewed by a human before use. They may contain incorrect cooking temperatures, unsafe food combinations, missing safety steps, or inaccurate preparation instructions. Always verify cooking temperatures against authoritative food safety guidelines (e.g., USDA, FSA UK) and use professional judgement.
Who is responsible for verifying content shown to end users?
You are. As a developer using the Foodashi API, you are solely responsible for reviewing, verifying, and validating all recipe data, nutritional information, and allergen indicators before displaying them to your end users. This is a condition of using the API as stated in our Terms of Service and API License Agreement.
Can I use Foodashi for medical or dietary management?
No. Foodashi is not a medical, nutritional, or dietary authority. You must not use API data as the sole basis for managing medical conditions (diabetes, celiac disease, food allergies, etc.), creating clinical meal plans, or providing dietary advice without oversight from a licensed healthcare provider. See our Acceptable Use Policy.
Who owns the generated recipes?
Recipes are AI-generated. Foodashi does not claim copyright ownership over AI-generated outputs and makes no representation regarding their intellectual property status. AI-generated content may not be eligible for copyright protection under applicable law. You are responsible for conducting IP due diligence before publishing or commercialising API content.
Can I use Foodashi recipes commercially?
Commercial use is allowed on Indie, Pro, and Enterprise plans. The Hobby (free) plan is restricted to non-commercial, personal use. When using recipes commercially, you must comply with our API License Agreement, including attribution requirements and the obligation to independently verify all content before presenting it to end users.
Does Foodashi comply with food labeling regulations?
Foodashi provides informational data only and does not guarantee compliance with any food labeling regulation. If you use API data for food labels, menus, or consumer-facing nutritional information, you are responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable regulations (EU Regulation 1169/2011, US FALCPA/FASTER Act, UK Natasha's Law, etc.). API data must be independently verified before use on food labels.
Legal & Compliance
What legal documents govern my use of Foodashi?
Your use of Foodashi is governed by:
1. Terms of Service — general terms, liability, disclaimers
2. API License Agreement — developer-specific API usage rules
3. Privacy Policy — how we collect and process data
4. Refund & Cancellation Policy — refund windows and cancellation rules
5. Acceptable Use Policy — prohibited and restricted uses
1. Terms of Service — general terms, liability, disclaimers
2. API License Agreement — developer-specific API usage rules
3. Privacy Policy — how we collect and process data
4. Refund & Cancellation Policy — refund windows and cancellation rules
5. Acceptable Use Policy — prohibited and restricted uses
Do I need to show disclaimers in my app?
Yes. If your application displays Foodashi-generated content to end users, you must:
- Attribute the source as "AI-Generated by Foodashi" or "Powered by Foodashi"
- Disclose that content is AI-generated and has not been professionally verified (unless you have verified it)
- Display appropriate warnings about allergens, nutritional accuracy, and food safety
- Not represent AI-generated content as human-authored without independent verification
Is Foodashi GDPR compliant?
Yes. Foodashi processes minimal personal data and complies with GDPR, CCPA/CPRA, and UK data protection laws. We do not sell personal data, do not use advertising cookies, and do not use API payloads to train machine learning models. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Does Foodashi use my data to train AI models?
No. Foodashi does not use customer API payloads, search terms, or account data to train proprietary machine learning models. Your data is processed solely to fulfil API requests and for legitimate platform operations (security, billing, abuse prevention).
What jurisdiction governs the terms?
Our Terms of Service are governed by the laws of England and Wales. EU consumers retain the right to bring proceedings in their country of residence under applicable consumer protection laws. Nothing in our terms overrides statutory consumer rights that cannot be waived by contract.
How do I request deletion of my data?
You can delete your account and data directly from the Developer Console. Alternatively, email us via the contact page and we'll process your request within 30 days. Note that certain data (e.g., billing records) may be retained for up to 7 years to meet tax and legal obligations, as detailed in our Privacy Policy.
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