Report on the FAO/INFOODS Compilation Tool: A simple system to manage food composition data

The need for a food composition database management system (FCDBMS) has been recognized since the early days of database software development. Several attempts were made in the past to develop a FCDBMS for international use without general success. Many countries, especially developing countries, do not have the financial means to develop their own FCDBMS software. Therefore, FAO and the International Network of Food Data Systems (INFOODS) developed the Compilation Tool in Excel using internationally recognized standards and guidelines such as the INFOODS component identifiers, database stage separation and INFOODS interchange guidelines of 2004. It also includes three recipe calculation methods based on yield and nutrient retention factors. It is the first publicly available Compilation Tool allowing standardized compilation, documentation and management of food composition data, which can be tailored to individual needs. It has already been used successfully in different settings, e.g. to compile national food composition databases and biodiversity databases. However, the use of Excel spreadsheets is more prone to errors compared to database management systems. Despite these limitations, it is expected that the Compilation Tool will enable users, especially in developing countries, to compile and publish food composition databases with comprehensive documentation. In the future, it is hoped that a database management system with similar features will be developed and made freely and widely available.