FSANZ's Food Composition Program maintains a custom‐made data management system with information on the nutrient composition of Australian foods.
FSANZ uses the data to produce reference and survey databases such as NUTTAB and AUSNUT, and to feed into FSANZ risk assessment processes. The data are also used externally for nutrition labelling, research on diet and disease, education, and to assist consumers to make healthy food choices.
In order to maintain the database with the most current information, FSANZ conducts analytical programs where specific foods and nutrients are targeted for laboratory testing.
In 2006, FSANZ developed the pilot Australian Children’s Key Foods Program, based on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Key Foods concept, to assist in prioritising foods for nutrient analysis.
FSANZ commissioned a second key foods program, focussing on adult food consumption, in 2008. This program anticipated the need to develop a survey database for estimating nutrient intakes of Australian adults as part of a future National Nutrition Survey (NNS).
Summary reports showing the key foods approach, food sample lists, results and key findings of both the 2006 and 2008 analyses are available below.
2006 Key Foods Program
Download report (PDF 173kb)
Download results (xls 97kb)
2008 Key Foods Program
Download report (PDF 188kb)
Download results (xls 142kb)
