Food Composition

Food composition data, including information about energy, nutrients and other compounds in foods, are pivotal to nutrition. Food composition tables and databases centralize these data, and should be developed at country, or at least regional level. The availability and use of high-quality food composition data may support the development of more effective strategies for promoting healthy diets.

FAO’s work on food composition focuses on promoting and assisting the generation and dissemination of new data, facilitating access and harmonization of existing data, and developing technical standards and guidelines.

To better support countries worldwide, FAO coordinates the International Network of Food Data Systems (INFOODS), a voluntary global network of food composition experts that work towards improving the quality, availability, reliability and use of food composition data.

This website aims to provide experts, stakeholders and policy makers with access to food composition data, standards and guidelines, tools and learning resources. It also offers a space for the exchange of technical information and resources, and peer-learning.