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FAO/INFOODS food composition database for biodiversity.
U Ruth Charrondière1, Barbara Stadlmayr, Doris Rittenschober
1FAO, Rome, Italy. ruth.charrondiere@fao.org
Food Chemistry
|April 23, 2013
Summary
Nutrient content varies significantly between food varieties. Understanding these differences is crucial for ensuring adequate nutrient intake, especially with the new FAO/INFOODS food composition database for biodiversity.
Area of Science:
- Food Science
- Nutrition Science
- Biodiversity Studies
Background:
- Nutrient content varies significantly not only among different foods but also between varieties of the same food.
- This variability highlights the importance of detailed food composition data for accurate nutritional assessments.
- Underutilized and wild food resources represent a significant, yet often overlooked, component of food biodiversity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and disseminate a comprehensive food composition database focusing on varietal differences.
- To include data on underutilized and wild foods to support biodiversity research.
- To provide a valuable resource for national and regional food composition databases and nutritional intake estimations.
Main Methods:
- Compilation of analytical data for foods at the variety, cultivar, and breed levels.
- Inclusion of data for underutilized and wild food species.
- Development of a database in MS Excel format, accessible for free download.
Main Results:
- The FAO/INFOODS food composition database for biodiversity contains 6411 food entries.
- Data for 451 components are included, along with bibliographic references.
- The database is available for download from the INFOODS website.
Conclusions:
- Varietal differences in nutrient content are substantial and impact nutritional adequacy.
- The FAO/INFOODS database provides essential data for understanding food biodiversity and its nutritional implications.
- Regular updates and accessibility of this database will support improved nutrient intake estimations and promote food biodiversity awareness.
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