Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Nutrient Data Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #207249
Title: Development of Current Estimates for Beef and Beef Products

Author
item Howe, Juliette
item Holden, Joanne

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/11/2007
Publication Date: 2/1/2007
Citation: Howe, J.C., Holden, J.M. 2007. Development of Current Estimates for Beef and Beef Products. National Cattlemen's Beef Association's Discovery Symposium, February 1, 2007, Nashville, Tennessee.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR) provides food and nutrient composition data for over 7000 foods consumed in the U.S. SR is provided to the scientific community and the public on the web (http://www.ars.usda.gov/nutrientdata) free of charge, and is widely used for many purposes, including nutrition monitoring, nutrition policy development, health research and food product development. SR releases include data for over 980 beef or beef-containing food products. A primary challenge for SR is maintaining the currency of the data and the representativeness of the market. A collaborative effort between the Nutrient Data Laboratory and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) has been proposed to review and update beef items in SR. A recently completed market basket study conducted by NCBA will be used to identify outdated beef items for removal or revision, as well as new products not currently in SR. Studies will have to be designed for sample acquisition and nutrient analysis of new or outdated cuts, particularly those which will be impacted by the proposed, new, single-ingredient labeling regulations. Plans should include both raw and cooked meat items, with particular focus on obtaining data on cooking yields and retention factors. The release of new beef composition data will allow consumers to make healthful choices in their diets. And will also provide researchers, consumers, nutrition professionals and government agencies the necessary information for establishing nutrition policy and in making diet and health recommendations. The revision of data will provide industry with the necessary information to meet the required nutrition labeling regulations.