How our tools work
One standard, no exceptions: every tool is either pure math or a cited lookup.
Every MenuSafe tool is one of exactly two things:
- Deterministic — a calculation or conversion whose result verifies itself. A measurement converter either converts correctly or it doesn't; there's no judgment and no opinion.
- A cited lookup — a transparent display of authoritative published data (e.g. the FDA top-9 allergen list, USDA FoodKeeper storage data), with the source linked so you can check it yourself.
What we will never do
We do not publish our own opinion of whether a specific restaurant, chain, or dish is safe for your allergy. Real-world safety varies by location, by shift, and by the person preparing your food — it is not something a website can score, and presenting such a score as authoritative would be dangerous. If a tool can't be made deterministic or backed by a citable source, we don't build it.
Why some tools say “sourcing”
Tools that depend on published reference data stay greyed-out until we've pulled and cited their official source. You'll see the exact authority we're waiting on (e.g. “USDA FoodKeeper data”) on each one. We'd rather ship a tool late than ship it unverified.
Found an error?
Email corrections@menusafe.app. Deterministic tools shouldn't have errors (the math is the math); if a cited-lookup tool ever disagrees with its source, tell us and we'll fix it fast.