France publishes 200,000+item nutrient database

“How many calories does an apple contain? How much protein is found in yoghurt? Which fruit contains the most vitamin C, oranges or black currants?”

The French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES) has updated a massive database with answers to these and 100s of other nutritional questions.

The French Observatory of Food Quality (CIQUAL-OQALI) is one the largest of its kind and contains calorie count and the fat, carbohydrate, protein, vitamin and mineral content for 1440 foods.

It also contains, “detailed fatty acid profiles and a new search function”.

The last CIQUAL table was published in 2008 but the 2012 version has doubled the number of references at 200,000 and 140 new foods have been added.

These include, “flours, cereals, cookies and cakes, biscuits, dairy specialities, oils, meats, fish, fruit juices and prepared foods”.

“Following updating of the French Population Reference Intakes (ANC) for fatty acids by the Agency in 2010, the 2012 CIQUAL table now also provides a detailed profile of the fatty acids in foods,” it added.

“A new search function enables users to sort foods by levels of a given component: for example, you can perform a search on the foods with the highest level of omega 3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) or of vitamin B9 (folates), or those containing the least salt (sodium) or sugar.”
“For each food considered, the average composition is estimated by combining several brands of the product and by taking into account whenever possible the consumption levels of the French population.”

The database can be found here.

French, Polish and Lithuanian food agencies join forces

France, Poland and Lithuania will team up on food research and safety projects after their food and veterinary agencies signed accords in June.

ANSES director general, Marc Mortureux, met chiefs at Lithuania's National institute for the assessment of food and veterinary risks (NMVRVI) and Poland’s National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) to forge the new agreements.

“During the meeting, in which some representatives of Food Safety Department staff also attended, the common areas of interest were indicated, including risk assessment, emerging risks, relations with EFSA and generals aspects of food safety,” the NIPH said.

“The common benefits from closer collaboration between ANSES and NIPH-NIH was confirmed, especially on the areas of food safety and methodologies of risk assessment.”

Agreements were also made with the National veterinary institute of Poland (PIWET).

The French and Lithuanian delegations meet

ANSES said that, “Thanks to several scientific and technical collaborations already in place with the NMVRVI and the PIWET, the two agreements signed last week aim to strengthen scientific and technical cooperation between the entities.”

“In particular, they will make it possible to implement joint assessment and research activities and share knowledge, data and technical expertise. In practical terms, the agreement may bring about a proposal for joint research projects in response to European calls for proposals (PCRD, EFSA) or scientific exchanges.”

“This visit was also an opportunity for ANSES to meet with the General Directorate of Poland's National public health institute (NIPH) in charge of monitoring the health of the Polish population, improving hygiene and health conditions and monitoring the health and safety of foods and everyday objects.”
ANSES already has agreements with agencies and institutions in Germany (BfR), Belgium (Coda-Cerva), Denmark (DTU-Food), the Netherlands (Public Health Council), Switzerland (IST), Canada (Health Canada, University of Montreal, IRSST, INSPQ), China (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chinese Institute of Veterinary Drug Control [IVD]) and the United States (FDA and NIH).