Developing the food nutrient database

Filling nutrient gaps in the core dataset

Development of additional nutrient profiles for foods and beverages consumed in the NNPAS

Development of additional nutrient profiles for foods and beverages consumed in the NATSINPAS

Nutrient profiles for foods and beverages in AUSNUT 2011-13 were developed following the key steps outlined below, and reflect the foods and beverages consumed during the 2011-13 Australian Health Survey (AHS).

Development of a core dataset containing analytical data for foods reported in FSANZ reference database NUTTAB 2010 and new analytical data generated throughout the AHS.

Filling nutrient data gaps in the core dataset to ensure each food has a nutrient value for each nutrient to be reported.

Development of additional nutrient profiles for foods and beverages consumed in the NNPAS as needed to produce the survey database, AUSNUT 2011-13.

Development of additional nutrient profiles for foods and beverages consumed in the NATSINPAS as needed to complete the survey database, AUSNUT 2011-13

Development of the core dataset

AUSNUT 2011-13 is based on an extensive set of current, high quality Australian derived analytical data generated by FSANZ and the food industry.

The core dataset draws on predominantly analytical nutrient data for approximately 2,200 foods available in FSANZ's reference database NUTTAB 2010 (FSANZ, 2011). It represents the major sources of nutrients in our diets, as well as foods commonly used as ingredients in other foods. Before its release in 2011, FSANZ did a major review of our data holdings. The database was expanded to include nutrient data generated from FSANZ's most recent analytical programs such as our Key Foods Programs (FSANZ, 2006; FSANZ 2008), which focussed on collecting nutrient data for foods that are the major contributors to the intake of a wide range of nutrients in Australian diets. The nutrient data was also peer-reviewed before release, providing FSANZ with greater confidence in the quality of the published data.

FSANZ also commissioned a series of analytical programs between 2010 and 2014 to provide new or updated nutrient data for a small number of foods and beverages consumed during the AHS to feed into the core dataset and future releases of FSANZ reference database, NUTTAB. Nutrient analysis focused on:

commonly consumed foods (including milk) that are major sources of several nutrients
foods that were likely to be a major source of a single nutrient in an Australian's diet (including canned fish for omega-3 fatty acids, breads for folic acid)
foods for which FSANZ held out-dated, limited or no Australian derived analytical data
foods that allowed verification of our recipe assumptions.

For more information about each of the eight analytical programs commissioned by FSANZ during the AHS, select the relevant program listed below.

The core dataset also contains unpublished analytical data provided by the food industry including:

2010 Australian Seafood Cooperative research centre project
2011 Meat and Livestock Association mince analytical program
2011 Australian Native Foods industry Limited program
2012 Meat and Livestock Association goat analytical program
2013 Resistant starch data

Use of this large set of current, high quality analytical data for the major contributors to nutrient intake as the core dataset, from which additional nutrient profiles were developed for foods consumed during the AHS, provides confidence in the quality of the nutrient intakes estimated from the AHS.