Understanding the API Results

For search queries (such as: https://api.fda.gov/food/event.json?search=outcomes:"medically+important"), the results section includes matching adverse event reports returned by the API.

Each adverse event report consists of these major sections:

• Header:General information about the adverse event
• Consumer:Information about the individual who experienced the adverse event
• Products:Information about the products involved in the adverse event report
• Reactions:Information on the reactions or symptoms experienced by the individual involved
• Outcomes:Information on known outcomes or consequences of the adverse event

For count queries (such as: https://api.fda.gov/food/event.json?count=reactions.exact), the results section will look something like the following:

{
  "meta": {
    "disclaimer": "Do not rely on openFDA to make decisions regarding medical care. While we make every effort to ensure that data is accurate, you should assume all results are unvalidated. We may limit or otherwise restrict your access to the API in line with our Terms of Service. Submission of an adverse event report does not constitute an admission that a product caused or contributed to an event. The information in these reports has not been scientifically or otherwise verified as to a cause and effect relationship and cannot be used to estimate incidence (occurrence rate) or to estimate risk.",
    "terms": "https://open.fda.gov/terms/",
    "license": "https://open.fda.gov/license/",
    "last_updated": "2017-12-02"
  },
  "results": [
    {
      "term": "DIARRHOEA",
      "count": 1495
    },
    {
      "term": "ABDOMINAL PAIN",
      "count": 1050
    },
    {
      "term": "VOMITING",
      "count": 1002
    }
  ]
}