The German Food Code and Nutrient Data Base (BLS II.2)

Area of Science:

• Nutritional Science
• Food Composition Analysis
• Public Health Nutrition

Background:

• Accurate food composition data is crucial for dietary assessments and public health research.
• Existing food databases often have gaps in analytical data, limiting their utility.
• The German Food Code and Nutrient Data Base (BLS) was developed to address these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the conception and structure of the German Food Code and Nutrient Data Base (BLS).
• To create a comprehensive and standardized resource for food and nutrient information in Germany.
• To facilitate uninterrupted evaluation of consumption surveys.

Main Methods:

• Development of a structured database containing approximately 12,000 coded foods, menus, and menu components.
• Inclusion of up to 158 nutritional data points for each food item.
• Calculation of nutritional data from recipes to supplement limited analytical data.

Main Results:

• The BLS database was established with extensive food and nutrient information.
• A significant portion of the data is derived from recipe calculations, ensuring data completeness.
• The database provides a standardized instrument for evaluating consumption surveys without missing values.

Conclusions:

• The German Food Code and Nutrient Data Base (BLS) is a valuable tool for nutritional research and public health.
• The methodology used ensures a high degree of data completeness, overcoming limitations of analytical data scarcity.
• The BLS facilitates reliable and uninterrupted analysis of dietary consumption patterns.