Uses and Abuses of Food Composition Data
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Uses and abuses of food composition data Proceedings of a Symposium held at the University of New South Wales, 25 and 26 September, 1989, organised by the Dietitians' Association of Australia (NSW), the Council of Australian Food Technology Associations and the Department of Food Science and Technology, UNSW. H. Greenfield, editor Introduction S4 Composition of foods, Australia R. English S5 Food composition data and clinical dietetics D. Foote S8 Food composition data in clinical research J. Allen S10 The uses of food composition data in nutritional K.I. Baghurst and epidemiology P.A. Baghurst Sll Food composition data and the National Heart Foundation's Food Approval Program B. Haddy S14 Sampling foods for nutrient composition studies J. Cunningham S16 Data production and data quality assurance in a nutrient P. Scheelings and analysis program D. Buick S18 Compilation and scrutiny of food composition data K. Cashel S21 Food composition data in the promotion of lean meat in Australia L. Fantini S25 Food composition data in the promotion of canned foods A.K. Wailes S29 The development of a special purpose food composition data base for industry J.A. Barnes S32 Food composition data use for food legislation purposes R. Peters S36 The New Zealand food composition data bases B.A. Burlingame S39 Recommendations S44 This publication is reproduced with permission of the copyright holder, H. Greenfield. Copies of these proceedings are available from A/Prof. H. Greenfield, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of New South Wales, PO Box 1, Kensington NSW 2033 at a cost of $A12 (includes postage). Make cheques and money orders payable to Dept. of Food Science and Technology, UNSW. Introduction he idea for this Symposium arose view of the importance of regional Tf rom the realisation in 1987 that cooperation, there is also a paper on although publication of the new New Zealand's food composition Australian food composition tables, program. A number of recommendations Composition of foods, Australia (Cashel were drawn up by four workshops and & others 1989) was imminent, there had agreed to in plenary session. These been very little public discussion by recommendations conclude the printed intending users about the new analytical proceedings. data and the associated new tables and In the USA, a National Nutrient computerised data base. Those who Databank Conference is held annually in had been involved in the analytical work different states (eg Morgan 1980) and and subsequent publications at the many other countries are now also University of New South Wales were beginning to hold national meetings (eg conscious of the level of FNRI 1985). In Australia the first such misunderstanding among some readers meeting was held at the University of who had written with requests for New South Wales in 1980 (Greenfield & clarification of points related to the Wills 1981) and it is hoped that other meaning, derivation or use of the data. national meetings will be held from time These requests had already exposed to time to increase knowledge about the the lack of training among some users in national food composition data base and the scientific meaning and appropriate to learn how to exploit it fully and use of nutrient composition data. appropriately. It is anticipated that the It was therefore decided to hold a computerised data base will become an meeting which would enable scientists everyday tool for all working in the field who had been involved in the Australian of nutrition in Australia in the coming analytical program to give outline years. This makes it even more presentations on how the work had important that users become more been carried out, and to enable some informed and knowledgeable about the major users in various fields to discuss data and their appropriate use, as well their requirements and current uses of as computer-literate. The power of the data. The Symposium was held on 25 computer data base and the situation and 26 September, 1989, at the created by ongoing releases of data and University of New South Wales and was the associated costs could lead to a attended by about 200 people from proliferation of different versions in use, industry, health and consumer and easy access by untrained users, organisations, hospitals, academia, and both situations with the potential for research institutions. These Symposium abuse or inappropriate use. It is also proceedings contain the papers clear that nutrient composition data will presented on sampling, on data grow in importance for nutrition production and analytical quality education and consumer education. assurance, and on data scrutiny and Industry has long recognised the compilation. In addition there are papers importance of creating its own nutrient outlining the use of food composition data bases and the mutual benefits of data and data bases or tables in the process to industry, research and dietetics, clinical research, nutritional the consumer alike (Gurr 1989). Other epidemiology, health promotion, food professional groups must not lag behind legislation and the food industry, in knowledge about the nutrient particularly in product advertising. In composition of foods and the applications of the data, and should not hesitate to make their voices heard on needs for data and data formats. The Symposium organisers wish to thank those who participated in the Symposium, including those who Nutrient Analysis Software for displayed posters or who demonstrated software packages, those who assisted Dietitians and Food Scientists with publicity (eg Food Australia, the The DCI Consultant's “Smart Diet!” Nutrition Society of Australia, the Home (c) is a powerful nutritional analysis Economics Association of Australia, and tool while at the same time simple to regional groups of the Dietitians' operate. The graphical output provides Association of Australia), the a clear profile of a nutrient analysis, organisations who sponsored the and at a glance the strenghts and participation of speakers weaknesses of a food product, (Commonwealth Department of menu,diet or recipe can be focussed Community Services and Health, on for appropriate modification. Canned Food Information Service Inc, Key features of “Smart Diet !” (c) National Heart Foundation) and the include: organisations who assisted with the Full support of NUTTAB89 (c) costs of publication of these — Proceedings: CSR Refined Sugars and database and updates. the Australian Meat and Live-stock — An easy to use menu system Corporation. Finally we thank the many suitable for operators with students and staff of the University of minimal computer experience. New South Wales, who assisted with — Additional nutrient databases organisation on the two days of the which are user-definable. Symposium. — Project, menu and recipe References databases which are user- Food and Nutrition Research — Exclusive “Dynamic Graphing” Institute/National Research Council of and printout capability. the Philippines. 1985. Proceedings of A Hot-Line telephone help the first national workshop on food — Continuingf development and composition data generation, — support. compilation and use. Manila: FNRI. To arrange for a demonstration or Greenfield, H & Wills, RBH (eds). 1981. obtain further information please Tables of food composition: an contact: Australian perspective. Food Technol. Wailes and Phone: (03)4199077 Aust. 33: 101–31. Associates Gurr, MI. 1989. Has the food industry Unit 4, 19–35 Fax: (03)417 1227 benefited from the science of nutrition? Gertrude Street Proc. Nutr. Soc. 48: 159–63. Fitzroy, Vic. 3065 Morgan, KJ (ed). 1980. Proceedings of the fifth national nutrient data bank conference. East Lansing MI: Michigan State University. Composition of foods, Australia R. English his paper continues the story about Professor RH Thorp (Chairman), Te stablishing a national data base on Australian Federation of Consumer the nutrient content of the Australian Organisations food supply. At an earlier meeting held Miss June Bullock, Royal Prince at the University of New South Wales Alfred Hospital (Greenfield & Wills 1981) I presented a Dr Basil Hetzel, CSIRO Division of paper Australian food tables — some Human Nutrition glimpses into the past (English 1981). At Mr Lesley Ion, Commonwealth that time the food analytical program for Department of Health the current revision had just Dr WG Murrell, CSIRO Division of commenced and the paper detailed the Food Research history of the development of food Mr John Neuhaus, Government composition data bases in this country. Analyst (NSW) The present paper tells the story behind Mr RC Norris, Australian Government the present revision program at least up Analytical Laboratory to the publication of the 1989 edition of Mrs Barbara Smith, SA College of Composition of foods, Australia (Cashel Advanced Education & others 1989). Professor Stewart Truswell, 1978 Working Party on Food University of Sydney Composition Data Dr Ron Wills, University of NSW Miss Margaret Corden (Secretary), The history of the revision program Commonwealth Department of commenced in 1978 when the Working Health Party on Food Composition Data of the The members made a number of National Health and Medical Research recommendations including: the range Council (NHMRC) was established and of foods should be extended from the held its first meeting on 22 August 1978. 1970 edition of the food tables and Its terms of reference were: To draw up cover ethnic, processed and fast or a plan for the central collection of data take-away foods; a loose-leaf manual on food composition in Australia; to form of publication was desirable in identify the nutrients and other food which data on nutrients/foods would be components (eg additives) for which grouped by page/section to facilitate data are to be collected and the form in updating; and, procedures to be taken to which they should be recorded and identify appropriate laboratories to distributed to the public; and, to identify participate in the analytical program. analytical and research facilities which could participate in a collaborative 1979 Working Party on Food survey of food composition by direct Composition Data analysis.