Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Food Surveys Research Group » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #343810
Title: Discontinued Codes in The USDA Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies

Author
item Adler, Meghan
item Rhodes, Donna
item Moshfegh, Alanna

Submitted to: Journal of Food Composition and Analysis
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/7/2017
Publication Date: 7/14/2017
Citation: Adler, M.E., Rhodes, D.G., Moshfegh, A.J. 2017. Discontinued Codes in The USDA Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2017.07.017.

Interpretive Summary: The Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS), a database used to convert foods and beverages reported in What We Eat in America (WWEIA), National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) into gram amounts and to determine their nutrient values, is updated and a new version is released every two years to accompany the release of WWEIA, NHANES. Beginning with FNDDS 2011-2012 and continuing with FNNDS 2013-2014, extensive updates resulted in a notable increase in the number of codes added; additionally many codes were discontinued during these survey cycles, which can pose challenges for researchers. The objective of this short communication is to describe a file developed which lists discontinued codes between survey cycles, provides a rationale for discontinuation, and details how they may be linked to a new or existing code(s) in the subsequent version of FNDDS. The availability of a file to link appropriate discontinued codes between FNDDS versions benefits researchers conducting trend analysis or use FNDDS to support other food intake databases.

Technical Abstract: For each new version of the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS), foods and beverages, portions, and nutrient values are reviewed and updated. New food and beverage codes are added based on changes in consumption and the marketplace; additionally, codes are discontinued. To date, two files have been created and published on the Food Surveys Research Group Web site which detail discontinued codes between FNDDS versions. This manuscript describes the file most recently released, Discontinued Food Codes between FNDDS 2011-2012 and FNDDS 2013-2014. The rationale for discontinuing the 279 codes between these years are identified and include the following: dropped (n=147), expanded (n=27), consolidated (n=99) or renumbered (n=6). Examples of each type of discontinuation are discussed and if appropriate, the discontinued FNDDS 2011-2012 code is linked to one or more new or existing FNDDS 2013-2014 codes. The availability of a file to link appropriate discontinued codes between FNDDS versions benefits researchers conducting trend analysis or use FNDDS to support other food intake databases.