Improving food composition data quality: Three new FAO/INFOODS guidelines on conversions, data evaluation and food matching

• The 3 guidelines aim to improve food composition compilation process, harmonisation and quality.
• They are on food matching, conversions and checking/evaluation of data.
• They complement other FAO/INFOODS guidelines, standards and tools on food composition.
• More guidelines are planned to foster data quality.
• They are useful for authors of scientific articles to publish all needed information and units.

Food composition data play a key role in many sectors and the availability of quality data is critically important. Since 1984, the International Network of Food Data Systems (INFOODS) has been working towards improving food composition data quality and availability, including the development and updating of standards, guidelines and tools for food composition. FAO/INFOODS has recently published three comprehensive guidelines to improve and harmonise the compilation of data: (1) Guidelines for Food Matching, (2) Guidelines for Checking Food Composition Data prior to Publication of a User Table/Database, and (3) Guidelines for Converting Units, Denominators and Expressions. This article describes their content and development processes. Their adoption, along with additional ones planned for the future by FAO/INFOODS, should further improve the quality of published food composition data, which in turn can lead to more accurate nutrient intake estimates and more precise food labels, as well as better-targeted programs and policies.