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USDA's FoodData Central: what is it and why is it needed today?
Naomi K Fukagawa1, Kyle McKillop1, Pamela R Pehrsson1
1USDA Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, Beltsville, MD, USA.
The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
|December 11, 2021
Summary
The U.S. Department of Agriculture
Area of Science:
- Nutrition Science
- Food Science
- Database Management
Background:
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has historically maintained food composition data.
- An increasing variety of foods, evolving analytical methods, and new agricultural products necessitated an updated data system.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create an integrated, web-based platform for food and nutrient composition data.
- To provide reliable, transparent, and accessible information for diverse audiences.
- To incorporate novel data types for future food composition analysis.
Main Methods:
- Consolidation of five distinct data types into a single system: Foundation Foods (FF), Experimental Foods (EF), Standard Reference (SR) Legacy, Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS), and Global Branded Foods Products Database (GBFPD).
- Development of a centralized web portal for data access and dissemination.
Main Results:
- FoodData Central (FDC) now serves as the primary USDA resource for food composition information.
- FDC offers five data types, including two novel datasets (FF and EF) with unprecedented data and metadata.
- Established datasets (SR Legacy, FNDDS, GBFPD) are integrated for comprehensive access.
Conclusions:
- FDC addresses the need for a modern, accessible, and comprehensive food composition database.
- The system supports public health, research, policy-making, and product development.
- FDC represents a significant advancement in managing and disseminating vital food and nutrient information.
Keywords:
FoodData CentralUSDA Agricultural Research Servicedatabasedietfood analysisfood compositionfood productsfood supplynutrientsMore Related Videos
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