Most food businesses don't work only with generic ingredients. You source a specific oat flour from a specific mill, buy a proprietary seasoning blend from a co-packer, or use a private-label ingredient with its own spec sheet. These ingredients carry supplier-specific nutrition values, allergen information and internal codes that a general database can't know.
Your Custom Ingredients Library is where all of these live. Every ingredient you add is saved to your account and ready to use in any recipe. You can organize it with your own codes, supplier details, categories and tags, so finding the right ingredient takes seconds instead of scrolling through hundreds.
Plan availability: Custom ingredients are available on all plans: Basic, Plus, Professional and Enterprise.
Where to Find It
Click Ingredients in the left sidebar.
Click Filters.
Set Database to Custom ingredient.
Click Apply Filters.
You'll now see only the ingredients you've added. Each one is marked with a CUSTOM label in the Source column.
Adding Custom Ingredients
At the top right of the Ingredients page, there are two ways to add an ingredient:
Add New Ingredient: enter the ingredient's details and nutrition values yourself, for example from a supplier spec sheet or a lab analysis.
AI Ingredient Spec Sheet: upload a supplier spec sheet and the ingredient details are filled in from the document for you. Learn how in How to Use the AI Parsing Tool to Add a New Ingredient.
Understanding Your Library
Column | What it shows |
Ingredient code | Your own internal code, such as the one used in your ERP or inventory system |
Ingredient name | The name of the ingredient |
Source | Where the ingredient comes from. CUSTOM means you added it |
Date | The date linked to the ingredient. Click the column header to sort by date |
Category | The food group the ingredient belongs to |
Supplier Name | The supplier or manufacturer you buy it from |
Supplier Code | The supplier's own item code |
Tags | Labels you've added to group ingredients your way |
How to Find the Ingredient You Need
To search by name: type the ingredient name in the Search for ingredient bar and click Search.
To filter your library:
Click Filters.
Click the filter you want and choose or type a value.
Combine as many filters as you need.
Click Apply Filters.
Filter | Use it to... |
Database | Switch between your custom ingredients and the other available databases |
Nutrients amounts | Find ingredients above, below or at a specific nutrient value |
Date | Show ingredients from any date or date range you choose |
Category | See all ingredients in one food group, such as Spices and Herbs |
Tag | Pull up every ingredient grouped under one label, such as "Organic" or "Clean Label" |
Allergen | List every ingredient that contains a specific allergen, such as sesame or milk |
Supplier Name | See everything you buy from one supplier |
Supplier Code | Look up an ingredient by the supplier's item code |
Ingredient code | Look up an ingredient by your own internal code |
Sub ingredient | Find every ingredient that contains a specific sub-ingredient |
Filtering by Nutrient Amounts
This filter is useful when you're reformulating or developing a product with a nutrition target in mind.
Click Nutrients amounts.
Next to Amount, choose a comparison, such as > (greater than).
Enter a value in the box next to it.
Tick the nutrient you want to filter by, such as Sodium. Use the search bar to find a nutrient quickly.
Click Apply Filters.
For example, if you're developing a reduced-sodium soup, filter for ingredients with sodium above a set value to spot the biggest contributors in your library.
Filtering by Sub-Ingredient
Many ingredients are made of other ingredients. Chocolate chips can contain soy lecithin, and a seasoning blend can contain wheat flour.
Click Sub ingredient.
Type the sub-ingredient name, such as "soy lecithin".
Click Apply Filters.
You'll see every ingredient in your library that contains it. This makes it easier to catch hidden allergens and additives in compound ingredients.
Managing an Ingredient
Click the ⋯ menu next to any ingredient to see these options:
Option | What it does |
Edit Ingredient | Update the ingredient's details, nutrition values or supplier information |
Copy To Supplements | Copy the ingredient so you can use it in Supplement Facts panels |
Duplicate Ingredient | Create a copy to use as a starting point for a similar ingredient |
Delete Ingredient | Remove the ingredient from your library |
Activity History | See the changes made to the ingredient over time (Enterprise plan) |
Compare Ingredient | Compare the ingredient side by side with another one (Professional and Enterprise plans) |
Real-World Ways to Use Your Library
A supplier sends an updated spec sheet. Use Edit Ingredient to update the values, so every recipe using it reflects the change.
You switch to a new supplier. Use Duplicate Ingredient to copy the existing one, then update the supplier name, code and values for the new version.
A new allergen rule comes into effect. Filter by Allergen or Sub ingredient to find every ingredient affected, so you know which recipes may need a label update.
You're preparing for an audit. Use Supplier Name and Supplier Code to show where each ingredient comes from, and check that none are missing.
You're choosing a replacement ingredient. Use Compare Ingredient to see two options side by side before you reformulate.
You're matching your internal systems. Add your own Ingredient codes so Food Label Maker lines up with your ERP, purchasing or inventory records.
Why a Well-Organized Library Matters
More accurate labels. Using your supplier's actual values, instead of generic ones, keeps your Nutrition Facts panel closer to what's really in the product.
Faster recipe building. When your ingredients are coded, categorized and tagged, you find the right one in seconds.
Easier traceability. Supplier names and codes connect every ingredient back to its source, which helps when a supplier issue or recall comes up.
Consistency across your team. Everyone works from the same approved ingredient list, so the same ingredient isn't added twice with different values.
A final check on AI-added ingredients. If you add ingredients with the AI Ingredient Spec Sheet, review the extracted details against the original document before using the ingredient in a recipe.