Wondering how much fat is in that avocado or how many carbohydrates are in a banana? Google now provides nutritional data on roughly 1,000 popular foods. Credit: Illus_man/Shutterstock Let’s take a break from beating up on Google for cooperating (or not cooperating) with government spy programs and talk about what Google does really well: search. Every now and then I take a look at the company’s Insidesearch blog, and more often than not I find something cool and noteworthy. One recent headline caught my eye right away: “Time to back away from the cookie jar? Introducing nutrition info in search.” I haven’t had a cookie jar in my house for many years, but I do pay attention to what I eat. Suppose I want to know how much fat there is in one avocado. Using Google’s new search gadget you can simply type the question, or say it, and you get an answer that looks something like this: Here are a few more examples: Tempted by popcorn at the movies? Ask “how many calories are in popcorn,” and Google gives you an answer: 31 calories per cup. Perplexed by a food label or recipe? Ask “what nutrients are in breadfruit?” or “Is there sugar in granadilla?” On a high-protein diet? Ask “how many carbs are there in corn?” or simply search for “corn,” and you’ll find detailed nutrition information. Unfortunately, you do not get the same detailed answers when you ask about specific brands. For example, when I asked Google about sugar in sodas I saw an info box like the one on avocados, shown above. But when I asked about sugar in Coca-Cola, Google returned a set of links. (I bet lawyers had something to do with that.) For now, nutrition search only works for about 1000 foods, and it is not available everywhere. Over time, Google says it will “be adding more features, foods, and languages.” These new search features may not be as important as the NSA’s snooping, but they are certainly tastier. Related content brandpost Sponsored by Palo Alto Networks Operational technology systems require a robust Zero Trust strategy in 2024 Zero Trust provides a foundation for creating a stronger security posture in 2024. By Navneet Singh, vice president of marketing, network security, Palo Alto Networks Dec 05, 2023 6 mins Security brandpost Sponsored by AWS in collaboration with IBM How digital twin technology is changing complex industrial processes forever As the use cases for digital twins proliferate, it is becoming clear that data-driven enterprises with a track record of innovation stand the best chance of success. By Laura McEwan Dec 05, 2023 4 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by AWS in collaboration with IBM Why modernising applications needs to be a ‘must’ for businesses seeking growth Around one-third of enterprises are spending heavily on application modernisation and aiming for cloud native status. The implications for corporate culture, structure and priorities will be profound. By Laura McEwan Dec 05, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation opinion 11 ways to reduce your IT costs now Reorienting IT’s budget toward future opportunities is a big reason why CIOs should review their IT portfolios with an eye toward curbing unnecessary spending and realizing maximum value from every IT investment. By Stephanie Overby Dec 05, 2023 11 mins Budget Cloud Management IT Governance Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe