Child Nutrition Database Release 12
(Final version posted January 15, 2008)

The Child Nutrition Database (CN-D) is required to be part of the software programs approved by USDA for use with Nutrient Standard Menu Planning (NSMP) or conducting analyses to meet School Meals Initiative (SMI) requirements. Data is collected on the following 15 nutrients: calories, total fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, dietary fiber, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron, ash and moisture.

Note for CN12: A record with a date after 5/1/2007 in the “date added” field is a new record in the CN12 release. A record with a date after 5/1/2007 in the “last modified” field contains a revised value in one or more of its fields with the CN12 release. All products marked as discontinued in CN11 have been removed from CN12 (254 products). All Standard Reference 20 updates have been applied to the CN SREF products included in this release. 350 additional SREF products have been added and 248 SREF products have been coded as discontinued in this release.

System Components and File Formats (documentation)
(MS Word) (RTF) (ascii text)

Child Nutrition Database in Access Format
Access Database
(right click and choose "Save Target As" or "Save Link As")
This file includes all the components listed below under the Comma Delimited Format

Comma Delimited Format

• Food Description File
• Food Category Name File
• Food Include File
• Weight File
• Food Subcode File
• Food Subcode Description File

CN Nutrient Database

• Nutrient Values File
• Nutrient Description File

Other Files

• Food Buying Guide File
• Food Buying Guide Link File
• Data Quality Control Table for Food Industry Items

Please submit any issues or concerns regarding the Child Nutrition (CN) Database to: