Australian Food Composition Program
FSANZ is home to the Australia n Food Composition Program. Under the program we generate, compile and publish high quality Australian reference data on the nutrient composition of foods. This involves:
- maintaining a custom-built data management system
- generating and compiling nutrient composition data for Australian foods for publication as food composition tables and electronic databases
- managing a web-based labelling tool called the Nutrition Panel Calculator and
- generating specialised datasets for food standards development work and monitoring post implementation of standards.
Australian Food Composition Program review
In February 2009, FSANZ commissioned a review of its food composition program and databases. The review was undertaken by Dr Isabel Castanheira of the Portuguese National Institute of Health. Dr Castanheira was well placed to undertake this review, particularly given her extensive involvement with the European Food Information Resource (EuroFIR), a Network of Excellence in food composition databases. Her contributions to EuroFIR have included research related-activities, as well as lecturing in the course Production and Use of Food Composition Data in Nutrition.
The review assessed all aspects of the program, taking into consideration international best practice, and identified areas for improvement.
Overall, the outcomes of the review were positive but a number of recommendations were made.
A full report about the outcomes of the review can be found here.
A summary report and FSANZ’s response to the recommendations can be found here.
Food Composition Data
FSANZ publishes two types of food composition databases: NUTTAB and AUSNUT.
NUTTAB (NUTrient TABles for use in Australia) is Australia’s reference nutrient database. It contains a wide range of foods and nutrients. The nutrients reported in NUTTAB will vary between foods, according to the data we currently have available.
AUSNUT (AUStralian Food and NUTrient Database) is our survey specific nutrient database. Below is a summary of the differences between NUTTAB and AUSNUT.
NUTTAB | AUSNUT |
Reference database | Survey database |
Foods and nutrients vary according to data available | Foods and nutrients vary according to survey requirements |
Primarily analysed data | Derivation of data varies |
Incomplete nutrient dataset for each food | Complete nutrient dataset for each food |
How our data is used within FSANZ
Food composition data is used by FSANZ to:
- undertake dietary intake/exposure assessments (in association with consumption data) which feed into our risk assessment processes
- help FSANZ work on monitoring fortification and
- help with food standards development work and monitoring post implementation of standards.
How our data is used more widely
Our food composition data is used extensively by public health professionals, academia, industry and consumers for research on diet and disease, education, nutrition labelling (mainly via the NPC), and to assist with making healthy food choices.
Nutrition Panel Calculator (NPC)
FSANZ’s Nutrition Panel Calculator has been provided to help food manufacturers produce nutrition information panels for their products. The NPC is also popular with students and consumers who want information on the nutrient content of foods.
Further information
For more information about food and nutrient composition, please contact npc@foodstandards.gov.au .