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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Nutrient Data Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #329533
Title: USDA's National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program (NFNAP) Produces High-Quality Data for USDA Food Composition Databases: Two Decades of Collaboration

Author
item Haytowitz, David
item Pehrsson, Pamela

Submitted to: Food Chemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/27/2016
Publication Date: 11/19/2016
Citation: Haytowitz, D.B., Pehrsson, P.R. 2016. USDA's National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program (NFNAP) produces high-quality data for USDA Food Composition Databases: Two decades of collaboration. Food Chemistry. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.11.082.

Interpretive Summary: For nearly 20 years, the National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program (NFNAP) has expanded and improved the quantity and quality of data in US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) food composition databases through the collection and analysis of nationally representative food samples. This manuscript describes some of the findings from NFNAP and its impact on the food composition databases produced by USDA. NFNAP employs statistically valid sampling plans, comprehensive quality control protocols, and analytical oversight to generate new and updated analytical data for food components. To date nearly 2500 food items have been sampled and analyzed under NFNAP. As a result, approximately 20% of the items in SR have been added or updated using NFNAP generated data. Changes in the nutrient content of foods have occurred when manufacturers reformulated their products to lower the sodium content or to remove trans fat from their formulations and/or changed their cooking oils, as well as other changes. Recently generated results for nationally representative food samples show marked changes compared to previous database values for selected nutrients. In addition to providing updated values when products change, NFNAP also serves to confirm existing values for many foods. Monitoring changes in the composition of foods is critical in keeping food composition databases up-to-date, so that they remain a vital tool in assessing the nutrient intake of national populations, as well as for providing dietary advice.

Technical Abstract: For nearly 20 years, the National Food and Nutrient Analysis Program (NFNAP) has expanded and improved the quantity and quality of data in US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) food composition databases through the collection and analysis of nationally representative food samples. This manuscript describes some of the findings from NFNAP and its impact on the food composition databases produced by USDA. NFNAP employs statistically valid sampling plans, comprehensive quality control protocols, and analytical oversight to generate new and updated analytical data for food components. The Key Foods approach is used to identify the highest priority foods and nutrients for analysis; this approach has allowed NDL to keep up with the dynamic US food supply and emerging scientific research. For example, one prominent focus of NFNAP over the past several years has been monitoring changes in sodium content and related nutrients as manufacturers reformulate their products. Other changes in the nutrient content of foods have occurred when manufacturers and restaurants removed trans fat from their formulations and/or changed their cooking oils. Foods are purchased from various locations, such as retail outlets and fast food restaurants in different geographic areas as determined by the sampling plan, then composited and sent for analysis to commercial laboratories and cooperators, along with quality control materials. Recently generated results for nationally representative food samples show marked changes compared to previous database values for selected nutrients. Often this is caused by replacing nutrient values for foods with unknown or non-representative sampling with NFNAP generated values. In addition to providing updated values when products change, NFNAP also serves to confirm existing values for many foods. Monitoring changes in the composition of foods is critical in keeping food composition databases up-to-date, so that they remain a vital tool in assessing the nutrient intake of national populations, as well as for providing dietary advice.