USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Legacy

Authors: Haytowitz, David; Ahuja, Jaspreet; Wu, Xianli; KHAN, MONA - University Of Maryland; SOMANCHI, MEENA - University Of Maryland; Nickle, Melissa; NGUYEN, QUYNH ANH - University Of Maryland; ROSELAND, JANET - Consultant; Williams, Juhi; PATTERSON, KRIS - University Of Maryland; LI, YING - University Of Maryland; Pehrsson, Pamela

Submitted to: USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
Publication Type: Research Technical Update
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/27/2018
Publication Date: 4/11/2018
Citation: Haytowitz, D.B., Ahuja, J.K., Wu, X., Khan, M., Somanchi, M., Nickle, M.S., Nguyen, Q., Roseland, J.M., Williams, J.R., Patterson, K., Li, Y., Pehrsson, P.R. 2018. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Legacy. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. Internet: /nea/bhnrc/ndl

Interpretive Summary: The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR; http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=8964) is the major source of food composition data in the United States and provides the foundation for most food composition databases in the public and private sectors. This is the last release of the database in its current format. SR-Legacy will continue its preeminent role as a stand-alone food composition resource and will be available in the new modernized system currently under development. SR-Legacy contains data on 8,052 food items and up to 150 food components that were reported in SR28 (2015), with selected corrections and updates. This release supersedes all previous releases. Sodium values and those of related nutrients (proximates, sugars, potassium, and fatty acids) were updated for approximately 175 food items as part of an effort to monitor changes in sodium content of processed and prepared foods, termed “Sentinel Foods” which are major contributors of sodium to the diet. Other selected corrections and updates were also made. Where brand name food products are contained in the USDA Branded Food Products Database, data previously submitted for inclusion in SR by food manufacturers, have been removed from this database at their request. Several products (e.g., luncheon meats, mixed dishes, soups, breakfast cereals, and fast food items) that are no longer on the market or for which current data are not available have been removed. Other changes were made to improve consistency in food descriptions, household weights and other information in the database. The database is being provided in the two relational formats (ASCII and Microsoft Access). There are four principal files: Food Description; Nutrient Data; Gram Weight; and Footnotes and six support files: Nutrient Definition; Food Group Description; Source Code; Derivation Code; Sources of Data File; and Sources of Data Link File. The data are available to search (https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/) or download from the NDL Web site on the Internet http://www.ars.usda.gov/nutrientdata.

Technical Abstract: The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR; http://www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=8964) is the major source of food composition data in the United States and provides the foundation for most food composition databases in the public and private sectors. This is the last release of the database in its current format. SR-Legacy will continue its preeminent role as a stand-alone food composition resource and will be available in the new modernized system currently under development. SR-Legacy contains data on 8,052 food items and up to 150 food components that were reported in SR28 (2015), with selected corrections and updates. This release supersedes all previous releases. Sodium values and those of related nutrients (proximates, sugars, potassium, and fatty acids) were updated for approximately 175 food items as part of an effort to monitor changes in sodium content of processed and prepared foods, termed “Sentinel Foods” which are major contributors of sodium to the diet. Other selected corrections and updates were also made. Where brand name food products are contained in the USDA Branded Food Products Database, data previously submitted for inclusion in SR by food manufacturers, have been removed from this database at their request. Several products (e.g., luncheon meats, mixed dishes, soups, breakfast cereals, and fast food items) that are no longer on the market or for which current data are not available have been removed. Other changes were made to improve consistency in food descriptions, household weights and other information in the database. The database is being provided in the two relational formats (ASCII and Microsoft Access). There are four principal files: Food Description; Nutrient Data; Gram Weight; and Footnotes and six support files: Nutrient Definition; Food Group Description; Source Code; Derivation Code; Sources of Data File; and Sources of Data Link File. The data are available to search (https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/) or download from the NDL Web site on the Internet http://www.ars.usda.gov/nutrientdata.