Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T01:09:55.207Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Issues in the development and use of food composition databases

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 December 2006

Prapasri Puwastien*
Affiliation:
Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University at Salaya, Phuttamonthon 4, Nakorn Pathom 73170, Thailand
*
*Corresponding author: Email nuppw@mahidol.ac.th
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.
Objectives:

To share experience on the development of national and regional food composition tables (FCTs) and the issues and problems involved.

Design:

Food composition data analysed at national and regional levels were compiled. Systematic development of FCTs detailing specific criteria and characteristics following the INFOODS and ASEANFOODS guidelines was conducted.

Setting:

The national FCT was developed using the Thai FCT as a study model. For the regional level, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) FCT was developed.

Subjects:

About 3000 analysed datasets of about 1000 food items on proximate composition, minerals, vitamins and other available components from various sources in Thailand and about 4500 analysed datasets of 1700 food items on the same components from various countries in ASEAN were compiled. The national and regional FCTs were then developed systematically.

Results:

The developed Thai FCT contains 24 nutrients of 1055 food items and the ASEAN FCT contains 21 nutrients of about 1740 food items. Issues and problems regarding the development and use of national and regional food composition data are listed.

Conclusion:

Food composition databases have become increasingly important in the international health arena. Systematic compilation of the data is necessary and the use of INFOODS tag names is strongly recommended. This is to indicate the methods of nutrient analysis and calculation, and to facilitate international and regional data interchange. Users are also recommended to read the Explanatory Notes and Information to the Users. Collaboration among data generators, users and compilers at national and regional levels, as well as support from international organisations, is essential.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © CAB International 2002

References

1Nutrition Research and Development Center. Daftar Komposisi Bahan Makanan. Indonesia: Nutrition Research and Development Center, 1995.Google Scholar
2Siong, Te, Noor, MI, Azudin, MN, Idris, K. Nutrient Composition of Malaysian Foods, 4th ed. Malaysian Food Composition Database Programme. Kuala Lumpur: Institute of Medical Research, 1997.Google Scholar
3Portugal, TR, Apilado, RJ, Ardena, JG, Avena, EM, Matibag, PM, Reyes, GD, et al. The Philippines Food Composition Tables 1997. Metro Manila: Food and Nutrition Research Institute, Department of Science and Technology, 1997.Google Scholar
4Food and Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health. The Composition of Foods Commonly Eaten in Singapore. Singapore: Food and Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health, 1998.Google Scholar
5Puwastien, P, Raroengwichit, M, Sungpuag, P, Judprasong, K. Thai Food Composition Tables. Bangkok: Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, 1999.Google Scholar
6National Institute of Nutrition. Nutritive Composition Tables of Vietnamese Foods [in English and Vietnamese]. Hanoi: National Institute of Nutrition, 2000.Google Scholar
7Greenfield, H, Southgate, DAT. Food Composition Data: Production, Management and Use. London: Elsevier Science, 1992.Google Scholar
8Rand, WM, Pennington, JAT, Murphy, SP, Klensin, JC. Compiling Data for Food Composition Data Bases. Tokyo: United Nations University, 1991.Google Scholar
9Coordinating Office of ASEANFOODS. Creation of the First ASEANFOODS Food Composition Database. Report of the ASEANFOODS Workshop, 10–15 March 1996. Bangkok: Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, 1996.Google Scholar
10Nutrition Division, Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health. Nutritive Values of Thai Foods, 2nd ed. Bangkok, Thailand, 1992.Google Scholar
11Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Fish and Aquatic Animals in Thailand: With Illustration, 2nd ed. Bangkok: Kurusapa Printing Office, 1993.Google Scholar
12Surin, M, Somsuk, M. Encyclopedia of Plants and Animals. Vols. 1, 2, 3 and 4 [in Thai]. Bangkok: Praae Pittaya Publishers, 1990.Google Scholar
13Kasetsart University. Agricultural Information (1999) [online]. Available at http://www.ku.ac.th/AgrInfo/. Accessed 1999.Google Scholar
14Dowell, P, Bailey, A, Lambert Ortiz, E, Radecka, H. The Book of Ingredients, 8th ed. England: Penguin Books Ltd, 1995.Google Scholar
15Pijpers, D, Constant, JG, Jansen, K. The Complete Book of Fruit: An Illustrated Guide to over 400 Spices and Varieties of Fruit from all over the World. New York: Gallery Books, 1996.Google Scholar
16Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Fisheries Department, Thailand. Aquatic Fauna of Thailand (poster).Google Scholar
17Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Fisheries Department, Thailand. Freshwater Fishes of Thailand (poster).Google Scholar
18Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Fisheries Department, Thailand. Marine Fishes of Thailand (poster).Google Scholar
19Phithakpol, B, Varanyanond, W, Reungmaneepaitoon, S, Wood, H. The Traditional Fermented Foods of Thailand. Kuala Lumpur: ASEAN Food Handling Bureau, 1995.Google Scholar
20US Department of Agriculture, National Plant Data Center. The PLANTS Database 1997 [online]. Available at http://www.plants.usda.gov.Google Scholar
21Klensin, JC, Feskanich, D, Lin, V, Truswell, AS, Southgate, DAT. Identification of Food Components for INFOODS Data Interchange. Tokyo: United Nations University, 1999.Google Scholar
22Burlingame, BA. INFOODS TAGNAMES: update. Prepared for ASEANFOODS Food Composition Workshop, March 1996. Palmerston North: New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research, 1996Google Scholar
23National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA). New Statistics for NATA's Proficiency Testing Programs. Australia: NATA, 1996.Google Scholar
24ISO 3166: International Standard Codes for the Representation of Names of Countries [online]. Available at http://www.iso.ch/iso/en/prods-services/iso3166ma/02iso-3166-code-lists/list-en1.html.Google Scholar
25FAO/VDD. Fruits of Vietnam (poster).Google Scholar
26FAO/VDD. Vegetables of Vietnam (poster).Google Scholar
27Puwastien, P, Burlingame, B, Raroengwichit, M, Sungpuag, P. ASEAN Food Composition Tables. Bangkok: Institute of Nutrition, Mahidol University, ASEANFOODS Regional Centre and INFOODS Regional Database Centre, 2000.Google Scholar
28Schubert, A, Holden, JM, Wolf, WR. Selenium content of a core group of foods based on a critical evaluation of published analytical data. J. Am. Diet. Assoc. 1987; 87: 285–99.Google Scholar
29Schakel, SF, Buzzard, LM, Gebhardt, SE. Procedures for estimating nutrient values for food composition databases. J. Food Comp. Anal. 1997; 10: 102–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar