Implementing the EuroFIR Document and Data Repositories as accessible resources of food composition information

• The EuroFIR Document Repository contains searchable food composition documents.
• The EuroFIR Data Repository will contain composition data extracted from documents.
• Input of documented Data Repository data was tested in a database management system.
• Record identification and method documentation requirements were identified.
• Building accessible repositories eliminates duplicate food data compilation work.

The EuroFIR Document and Data Repositories are being developed as accessible collections of source documents, including grey literature, and the food composition data reported in them. These Repositories will contain source information available to food composition database compilers when selecting their nutritional data. The Document Repository was implemented as searchable bibliographic records in the Europe PubMed Central database, which links to the documents online. The Data Repository will contain original data from source documents in the Document Repository. Testing confirmed the FoodCASE food database management system as a suitable tool for the input, documentation and quality assessment of Data Repository information. Data management requirements for the input and documentation of reported analytical results were established, including record identification and method documentation specifications. Document access and data preparation using the Repositories will provide information resources for compilers, eliminating duplicated work and supporting unambiguous referencing of data contributing to their compiled data.