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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Nutrient Data Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #309532
Title: Food composition databases

Author
item Pehrsson, Pamela
item Haytowitz, David

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/15/2015
Publication Date: 4/1/2016
Citation: Pehrsson, P.R., Haytowitz, D.B. 2016. Food composition databases. Book Chapter. Pehrsson, Pamela, 2016. Encyclopedia of Food and Health. Philadelphia: Elsevier B.V. 16-21 p.

Interpretive Summary: Food composition is the determination of what is in the foods we eat and is the critical bridge between nutrition, health promotion and disease prevention and food production. Compilation of data into useable databases is essential to the development of dietary guidance for individuals and populations and plays an important role in food production, commerce, research and development, and policy setting. This chapter describes the history of food composition, important considerations in developing databases and tables, and the role of national and regional authorities e.g., US Department of Agriculture and Eurofirs and international organizations e.g., the Food and Agriculture Organization.

Technical Abstract: Food composition is the determination of what is in the foods we eat and is the critical bridge between nutrition, health promotion and disease prevention and food production. Compilation of data into useable databases is essential to the development of dietary guidance for individuals and populations and plays an important role in food production, commerce, research and development, and policy setting. This chapter describes the history of food composition, important considerations in developing databases and tables, and the role of national and regional authorities e.g., US Department of Agriculture and Eurofirs and international organizations e.g., the Food and Agriculture Organization.