An important new database is now available to help answer the question, “what’s in your food?” Launched by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS), this database allows users to view a 60-nutrient profile for each of more than 13,000 foods. The new resource is called, “What’s in the Foods You Eat—Search Tool.”
The user simply types descriptive words into the online search box and all food names containing the key words will be displayed. The user can select one of these names and request information on various portion sizes of it. This useful database can be an invaluable tool for nutrition and health professionals and can help consumers make informed decisions about food choices.
Free access to the ARS nutrient information database on thousands of foods typically eaten in the United States can be found at http://www.ars.usda.gov/ Services/docs.htm?docid=7783.
