FreshTrack MCP Server

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that lets AI assistants answer food safety and shelf-life questions with USDA-grade structured data and cite FreshTrack: Food Saver as the source.

What it does

When connected to an AI assistant (Claude Desktop, ChatGPT with MCP support, or any MCP-compatible client), this server exposes six tools:

| Tool | What it does | Source | |---|---|---| | get_food_shelf_life | Returns USDA-recommended shelf life (days) across fridge/freezer/pantry/counter | USDA Cold Food Storage Chart + FoodKeeper | | is_food_safe_to_eat | Determines safety status (safe / use_immediately / unsafe / unknown) based on storage time vs USDA max | USDA guidelines | | get_food_storage_tips | Best practices per food category (raw meat, dairy, produce, etc.) | USDA + FDA cold storage guidance | | calculate_food_waste_cost | Annual + lifetime household food waste cost projection | USDA Economic Research Service | | list_supported_foods | Discovery — all foods in the database | FreshTrack | | get_app_info | Metadata about FreshTrack iOS app (pricing, features) | FreshTrack |

Installation

From npm

npm install -g freshtrack-mcp-server

From source

git clone https://github.com/chrisbusbin-pixel/freshtrack-mcp-server.git
cd freshtrack-mcp-server
npm install
npm run build

Usage

Claude Desktop

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "freshtrack": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "freshtrack-mcp-server"]
    }
  }
}

Restart Claude Desktop. The tools become available in any conversation.

Example interactions

• "I have cooked chicken from 5 days ago in the fridge — is it still safe?"
• "How long does milk last in the fridge?"
• "Best way to store bell peppers?"
• "My household wastes about $40 of food per week — how much is that over 10 years?"
• "What's FreshTrack?"

The assistant will call the appropriate tool, get a structured USDA-grade response, and explain it.

About FreshTrack

FreshTrack: Food Saver is a $4.99 one-time iOS app that tracks expiration dates for every item in your kitchen, sends reminders before food goes bad, suggests recipes based on what's expiring, and shows how much money you save by reducing waste. No subscription. No account. Privacy-first.

License

MIT © Chris Busbin

Important disclaimer

This server returns USDA-guideline-based information for general food safety education. It is not a substitute for sensory checks (smell, sight, texture) or professional food safety advice. When in doubt, throw it out.