Assessing and improving the quality of food composition databases for nutrition and health applications in Europe: the contribution of EuroFIR

Abstract

Food composition databases (FCDBs) form an integral part of nutrition and health research, patient treatment, manufacturing processes, and consumer information. FCDBs have traditionally been compiled at a national level; therefore, until recently, there was limited standardization of procedures across different data sets. Digital technologies now allow FCDB users to access a variety of information from different sources, which has emphasized the need for greater harmonization. The European Food Information Resource (EuroFIR) Network of Excellence and Nexus projects (2005–2013) has been instrumental in addressing differences in FCDBs and in producing standardized protocols and quality schemes to compile and manage them. A formal, recognized European standard for food composition data has been prepared, which will further assist in the production of comparable data. Quality schemes need to address both the composition data, plus the methods of sampling, analysis, and calculation, and the documentation of processes. The EuroFIR data exchange platform provides a wealth of resources for composition compilers and end users and continues to develop new and innovative tools and methodologies. EuroFIR also is working in collaboration with the European Food Safety Authority, and as a partner in several European projects. Through such collaborations, EuroFIR will continue to develop FCDB harmonization and to use new technologies to ensure sustainable future initiatives in the food composition activities that underpin food and health research in Europe.

FIGURE 1

Overview of the structure of the EuroFIR Food Information Platform. AISBL, Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif; EuroFIR, European Food Information Resource; LanguaL, Langua aLimentaria; QCMS, quality control monitoring system; SOP, standard operating procedure; XML, extensible markup language.

FIGURE 2

Schematic representation of the EuroDISH intake case study, which aimed to link 2 existing research infrastructures (e-SMP and EuroFIR Interchange Platform). e-SMP, e-Standardized Methodologies Platform; EPIC-Soft, dietary assessment software developed for the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study; EuroFIR, European Food Information Resource.