The USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Program in Dietary Surveillance and Food Composition: State of the Program and Future Directions

The USDA-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) supplies nutritional surveillance data that are used by government and the private sector. Data are supplied by two programs; one program partners with the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct the What We Eat in America portion of the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (WWEIA-NHANES); the other program compiles analytical data concerning the composition of food and dietary supplements; it is most recognized for the National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference (SR). Data supplied by these programs are essential for a variety of actions/tasks including regulatory and policy decisions within the U.S. government and scientific publications relating foods and health outcomes; additionally private industry uses the data for varied purposes including assessing demand for certain foods and generating nutrient panels on food labels. Participants at a workshop in Beltsville, MD commented on the state of the programs as well as potential future directions. Participants noted that although the programs are highly regarded by all that use their data, they are in need of changes. However many desired changes are constrained by limited resources. The primary challenge to adequate funding for the programs is maintaining visibility and demonstrating impact, problems that can be addressed in part by proper citations in research articles that use the data and by effective communication of the consequences of insufficient funding.