Getting Started

Congratulations on selecting The Food Processor. You now have at your disposal direct access to the most reliable nutrient analysis information on the market today. Thousands of nutritionists, dietitians and other health workers all over the world have used The Food Processor and other ESHA software to both simplify and perfect their work in the field of nutrition.

About ESHA Research

ESHA’s suite of nutritional software products, services, and databases are recognized as the industry’s top choice for food and supplement formulation, recipe development, labeling, nutritional analysis, and regulatory compliance. At ESHA we strive to provide our customers with the best technical, nutrition, and regulatory support.

About ESHA Nutrient Databases

The nutrient information in your ESHA databases was compiled from the latest USDA data, manufacturer’s data, and reference data comprising more than 1,600 sources. Missing values and errors are minimized with quality control reviews and our trained research staff.

The total database sets contain nearly 100,000 food items – including brand name items, food ingredients and additives, common items, and the Canadian Nutrient File. Note: The Canadian nutrient file is redistributed with the nutritional values as reported by Health Canada. ESHA Research does not modify or double-check this information.

We analyze for up to 163 nutrient components.

You can add an unlimited number of new records to the databases and can even create new database sets of your own in order to manage specialty information.

Changes in the Database, Program, and Manual

ESHA Research is constantly modifying the database by adding new foods, updating existing foods, and eliminating outdated foods. Database updates are published regularly. The descriptions in this manual are subject to change. The program is constantly being modified and improved, and pictures and descriptions in the manual cannot always keep up. Therefore, you may find that some descriptions do not exactly reflect the program screen. The basic steps and functions, however, should perform as described.

ESHA’s History

ESHA Research, named for its founders, Elizabeth Stewart Hands and Associates, was established in 1981 with the goal of providing a comprehensive nutrition database with few missing values. After three years of extensive nutrition research ESHA released their first program, Food Processor Nutrition Analysis software.

The constantly growing and meticulously maintained food and ingredient database ensures users will have the most accurate nutrient analysis and the most up-to-date nutrition information available, regardless of which software platform is being used.

After more than three decades, Food Processor® Nutrition and Fitness Software remains the nutrition analysis product of choice for dietitians in hospitals, schools, and other institutions as well as in private practices. This comprehensive workhorse has continued to evolve while remaining the favored product on the market.

Our flagship program, Genesis R&D® Food Development and Labeling Software, was released in 1991. The program has been used by 80 percent of the top food producers and developers in the United States for quick and accurate nutrient evaluation, virtual product development, nutrition labeling, and government regulation compliance.

In response to customer and industry requests, ESHA developed a new program to specifically address the needs of the supplement manufacturing industry. In 2016, ESHA Research introduced to the market Genesis R&D Supplement Formulation & Labeling Software. This program is an offshoot of the well-known Genesis R&D Food Analysis and Labeling Software, but completely rewritten for the supplement industry.

To offer our customers an additional level of guidance, we established the Consulting Services Group in 2016. This team of specialists is available to create compliant labels and their supporting analysis documentation, evaluate packaging and nutrition claims, and provide feedback for complicated compliance issues.