Report on the development of the FAO/INFOODS user database for fish and shellfish (uFiSh) – Challenges and possible solutions

• FAO/INFOODS user database for fish and shellfish (uFiSh).
• uFiSh attempts to reflect intra-species variation due to origin, edible part, season.
• Harmonisation approaches for amino acids, fat and its related components.
• uFiSh will be a reliable data source for standard nutrients, fatty acids, amino acids.
• Aims to improve nutrient intake estimations by providing reliable data.

Reliable food composition data are required for virtually all nutrition-related programs and policies. In many food composition tables, fish are included to a limited extent. Therefore, FAO/INFOODS decided to compile and publish a user databases for fish and shellfish (uFiSh), considering the following main objectives: to develop a global database for fish, crustaceans and molluscs with raw, cooked and processed foods; to base the database preferable on analytical data; to include major as well as minor species consumed; and to capture intra-species variation due to habitat, edible part, season or region. The development of the uFiSh is based on FAO/INFOODS international standards and guidelines. The paper describes challenges and possible solution of data compilation specific to fish and shellfish, as well as the uFiSh in terms of its structure, including coverage of nutrients, documentation and format of publication. The first edition is intended to be published in 2015.