What Is the BLS 4.0 Database?
The Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel (BLS) — Federal Food Key — is the official food composition database of the German Federal Ministry of Food, published and maintained by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE). Since its introduction in the 1970s, the BLS has become the central reference for nutritional science, dietetics, and clinical nutrition therapy across the German-speaking world.
BLS 4.0 is the most current version and contains over 7,140 foods, each with more than 150 analysed nutrients — including all macronutrients, all amino acids (phenylalanine and tyrosine included), vitamins, minerals, and trace elements. For PKU patients, the amino acid data is the critical piece.
- Official food composition database of the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE), Germany
- BLS 4.0 is the latest version (as of 2024) with over 7,140 food entries
- Contains more than 150 nutrients per food, including all amino acids — phenylalanine (Phe) and tyrosine (Tyr) in full
- BLS data is based on official food laboratory analyses, scientific literature, and validated manufacturer data — not crowdsourced
- The recognised reference standard in clinical nutrition therapy and metabolic management for rare diseases including PKU
- Regularly expanded with new analyses and food entries as data becomes available
Why BLS 4.0 Matters for PKU
For people with phenylketonuria, knowing the exact phenylalanine content of every food is not a question of convenience — it is a medical necessity. Even small tracking errors, accumulated over a day, can push blood Phe above the therapeutic target. Inaccurate data is not an option.
- Broader coverage than US databases (USDA FoodData): significantly more German-speaking foods, branded products, and regional cuisine
- BLS 4.0 is considerably more up-to-date than earlier versions (3.01, 3.02) and reflects current product compositions
- Essential for the DACH region: Austrian products and Swiss foods are included throughout
- All amino acid entries are based on validated analytical methods — not extrapolated from similar products or estimated
Phenylalanine Values — An Overview
The table below shows representative phenylalanine values (per 100 g) from the BLS 4.0 database. The figures illustrate why food choice is so critical in PKU: even within similar food categories, differences in Phe content can be enormous.
| Food | Phe (mg / 100 g) | PKU suitability |
|---|---|---|
| Watermelon, raw | 12 mg | ✓ OK |
| Strawberries, raw | 14 mg | ✓ OK |
| Grapes, raw | 18 mg | ✓ OK |
| Tomatoes, raw | 28 mg | ✓ OK |
| Carrots, raw | 33 mg | ✓ OK |
| White rice, cooked | 75 mg | ⚠ Limited |
| Potatoes, boiled | 80 mg | ⚠ Limited |
| Cow's milk, 3.5% fat | 163 mg | ✗ Avoid |
| White bread | 380 mg | ✗ Avoid |
| Chicken breast, cooked | 1,020 mg | ✗ Avoid |
| PKU amino acid formula | ≈ 0 mg | ★ Formula |
All values from BLS 4.0 (2024 edition). Phe per 100 g edible portion. Actual portion sizes and your individual daily limit are decisive — always confirm with your dietitian.
Rule of thumb: 1 g of protein contains approximately 50 mg of phenylalanine on average. The actual ratio varies by food group — plant protein runs slightly lower, animal protein slightly higher. PHE Buddy calculates the exact value automatically from the BLS database.
BLS 4.0 vs. Other Databases
Not all food databases are equally suited to PKU management. The critical difference lies not in sheer data volume but in the quality of phenylalanine values, DACH market coverage, and the clinical validation of the underlying data.
| Criterion | BLS 4.0 (PHE Buddy) | MyFitnessPal / Cronometer | Older PKU books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of foods | 7,140 entries | Very many (crowdsourced) | 1,000 – 2,000 |
| Phenylalanine values | Complete, validated | Patchy, unreliable | Present, but outdated |
| DACH-region foods | Excellent coverage | Weak (US-focused) | Partially covered |
| Clinical validation | Official lab analyses | Community-based, unverified | Validated, but not current |
| PKU specialty products | Included + supplemented | Barely present | Partially present |
| App integration | Direct in PHE Buddy | No PKU logic (daily Phe limit) | Not digital |
| Currency | BLS 4.0 (2024) | Continuously updated but uncontrolled | Outdated (last print edition) |
For general calorie tracking, apps like MyFitnessPal can be practical. For PKU management, BLS 4.0 is the only reliable data source in the DACH region: phenylalanine values are officially validated and comprehensively recorded across the food supply.
PKU Specialty Products in BLS 4.0
A key advantage of BLS 4.0 is that the database covers not only everyday foods but also a broad range of PKU specialty products that are indispensable for daily dietary therapy.
- Low-protein PKU products from specialist manufacturers including Nutricia, Vitaflo, and PKU-Küche are included in BLS 4.0 — among them low-protein pasta, bread, flour, and baking ingredients
- Amino acid formula products from various manufacturers (e.g. PKU gel, Anamix, Lophlex) are partially included, as they affect tyrosine status even though they contain no or negligible Phe
- PHE Buddy extends the BLS database systematically with additional PKU specialty products that do not appear in the official BLS catalogue but are frequently used by our patients
- New PKU products are added to the PHE Buddy database as they become available — users can flag missing products directly within the app
PKU recipes in the PHE Buddy community automatically use BLS 4.0 values as their foundation. When you build a multi-ingredient recipe, PHE Buddy calculates the combined Phe value for the full dish and divides it by your number of servings — in real time.
How to Use the BLS Database in PHE Buddy
The BLS 4.0 database is fully integrated into PHE Buddy — no external table to consult, no manual conversion. All of the following functions draw directly on the database.
Search for a food
Type the name of any food into the search field — PHE Buddy instantly queries the full BLS database and shows you the Phe value per 100 g and for your entered portion size.
Use the AI nutrition scanner
Photograph the nutrition label on any packaged food — PHE Buddy reads the protein content and links it to the BLS dataset, or calculates the Phe value directly from the protein figure. Ideal for new products or items not yet in the database.
Build recipes
Add multiple ingredients to a recipe — PHE Buddy calculates the cumulative Phe value for the entire dish and divides it across your servings. Your saved recipes can be logged just like any individual food.
Track your daily limit
Your day log shows in real time how much Phe you have consumed and how much remains. If you reach your limit, you are notified immediately. Your daily Phe budget is set by your doctor or dietitian.
Review your trend
PHE Buddy displays your Phe intake as a trend chart over days, weeks, and months. Spot patterns, identify weak points in your diet, and bring meaningful data to your next clinic appointment.
7,140 Foods —
in Your Pocket
PHE Buddy is free for iOS & Android. Beta launches Q3 2026 — join the waitlist now and be among the first users with full BLS 4.0 access.
Join the Waitlist →Free · BLS 4.0 included · PCM Solution GmbH, Austria