Data on the composition of foods are essential for a diversity of purposes in many fields of activity. "Food composition data" was produced as a set of guidelines to aid individuals and organizations involved in the analysis of foods, the compilation of data, data dissemination and data use. Its primary objective is to show how to obtain good-quality data that meet the requirements of the multiple users of food composition databases. These guidelines draw on experience gained in countries where food composition programmes have been active for many years. This book provides an invaluable guide for professionals in health and agriculture research, policy development, food regulation and safety, food product development, clinical practice, epidemiology and many other fields of endeavour where food composition data provide a fundamental resource.

In the Second Edition, the USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference will be provided as a new supplement, offering the nutritional values of over 1,500 separate foods in an easy-to-follow format.

This book covers methods and strategies related to food composition and analysis. Topics include antioxidant activity of maize bran arabinoxylan microspheres; active packaging based on the release of carvacrol and thymol for fresh food; enzymes for the flavor, dairy, and baking industries; membrane technology in food processing; tenderization of meat and meat products; biological properties of mushrooms; polyacrylamide-grafted gelatin; irradiation of fruits, vegetables, and spices for better preservation and quality; oilseeds as a sustainable source of oil and protein for aquaculture feed.