Project Number: 1235-52000-061-23
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Aug 31, 2008
End Date: Aug 30, 2013

Objective:
To identify and quantify the nutrient composition of representative food samples in order to improve and expand the USDA Nutrient Databases. The purpose of this cooperative agreement is to provide quality control, sample preparation and support for USDA-initiated laboratory contracts and other laboratory projects to improve the quality of data in the National Nutrient Data Bank.

Approach:
The Nutrient Data Laboratory (NDL) is responsible for developing and disseminating authoritative composition databases for foods in the U.S. diet. Foods for preparation and analysis will be selected on the following bases: 1.) Key Foods, i.e. those identified as contributing up to 75% of any one nutrient of public health significance; 2.) foods frequently used as ingredients; and 3.) foods containing components of emerging interest. NDL will develop sampling plans for each type of food sampled, to assure a representative sampling of the food supply. NDL will order samples of food to be delivered to the cooperator for weighing, dissecting for physical components, preparation (including cooking), packaging and shipment to specified analytical laboratories for nutrient analysis. In many cases, the cooperator will need to develop preparation, dissection and cooking protocols. The cooperator will establish procedures for the implementation of these steps and for inclusion of control materials or duplicate samples for quality control assurance. In addition, the agreement includes consultations with NDL and contract laboratories on issues of methodology, sample analysis, handling and storage. The cooperator will also offer expertise in experimental design and interpretation of results of the nutrient analyses.