Evaluation of the FoodEx, the food classification system applied to the development of the EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database

The existing food description and classification systems present several drawbacks when assessing exposure to hazardous chemicals. To tackle this issue, the Data Collection and Exposure Unit (DATEX) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) developed a new system called FoodEx. It builds on different food description and classification systems and its main objective is to facilitate the assessment of dietary exposure to hazardous chemicals by allowing accurate matching of the datasets on chemical occurrence and food consumption. At the end of 2008, EFSA started a project aimed at establishing the “EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database”. FoodEx was used, within this project, to codify all foods and beverages present in the food consumption database provided by 20 Member States and collected from 22 different national dietary surveys. The main objective of this document is to present the outcome of using FoodEx for the harmonised classification of the food consumption data included in the Comprehensive Database. Based on this evaluation, suggestions for improvements of FoodEx are proposed. The present Scientific Report is intended as well to provide input to the Working Group on “Development of a Food Classification and Description System for exposure assessment” for the development of a uniformed food classification and description system. The FoodEx system proved to be user friendly and flexible enough in most situations to interface with national food classification systems. Differences in the classification systems used within the national dietary surveys have been identified. However, findings reported in the present document demonstrate that all data providers were able to classify correctly the large majority of their food items at least at the 2^nd level of the FoodEx. A clear recommendation to the above mentioned Working Group is the development of a classification and description system including facets as further descriptors.

© European Food Safety Authority, 2011

Many national and international food description and classification systems are available. Most of them are designed to be fit for purpose focusing on e.g. food consumption, food composition, legislation, trade, etc. National food classification systems are often based on national criteria and the food groups can be very specific. Several drawbacks were identified in relation to existing systems and therefore the Data Collection and Exposure Unit (DATEX) of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) decided to draft a food classification system (here referred to as FoodEx) that could better address its immediate needs. The main objective of FoodEx is to facilitate the assessment of dietary exposure to hazardous chemicals by allowing accurate matching of the datasets on chemical occurrence and food consumption. FoodEx is a hierarchical system based on 20 main food categories that are further divided into subgroups up to a maximum of 4 levels. It builds on different food description and classification systems. Currently, EFSA is further developing the FoodEx draft food description and classification system with the assistance of an ad hoc external Working Group on “Development of a Food Classification and Description System for exposure assessment”. The main goal of the working group is the development of a uniform food classification and description system that can address the needs of most units in EFSA and be accepted by the EFSA Member State networks on data collection in relation to food consumption, occurrence of chemical contaminants and residues as well as microbiological hazards.

At the end of 2008, EFSA started a project aimed at establishing the “EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database” (here referred to as the Comprehensive Database) building on existing information for adults and children at detailed level. In the project, 20 national organisations nominated by their respective Permanent Representative to the European Union provided EFSA with food consumption data from their most recent dietary survey within the country. The requested data should be representative at national level for at least the adult population, and was collected at individual level by means of a 24 h recall or dietary record. Data providers were asked to codify all foods and beverages present in the food consumption database according to the draft FoodEx classification system, at the most disaggregated level possible.

The main objective of this document is to present the outcome of using FoodEx for the harmonised classification of the food consumption data included in the Comprehensive Database. Based on this evaluation, suggestions for improvements of FoodEx are proposed. This Scientific Report is also intended to provide input to the Working Group on “Development of a Food Classification and Description System for exposure assessment” for the development of a uniform food classification and description system.

Data from 20 Member States and 22 different dietary surveys provided to EFSA were included in the Comprehensive database. The number of foods and beverages reported are provided with those consumed at least once within each survey and with the number of unique FoodEx codes reported for each survey. These numbers differ significantly from country to country indicating that, with respect to the description of food and beverages, the level of detail collected and reported to EFSA was not the same for all dietary surveys included in the Comprehensive Database. The use of items from the “Composite food (including frozen products)” category in FoodEx was discouraged and was to be used only if no other possibilities were available. Most countries managed to split most composite foods into their ingredients with the exception of Latvia, Sweden and Slovakia (10%, 8% and 7% of food records classified under the “Composite foods” category, respectively). Attention should be given to the FoodEx category “Composite food (including frozen products)” in the data for these countries since their breakdown of composite foods and home-made dishes into ingredients is probably not consistent with the other countries. An analysis of the food records showed that data providers were able to codify the large majority of foods at least at the 2^nd level of FoodEx.

Suggestions for improvements are given for each of the 20 food categories included in the FoodEx, together with a detailed list of possible additions/exclusions for each category. The FoodEx system proved to be user friendly and flexible enough in most situations to interface with national food classification systems. Differences between the national dietary surveys related to the level of detail requested concerning the description of food and beverages and consequently to their classification have been identified. A clear recommendation to the Working Group on “Development of a Food Classification and Description System for exposure assessment” is the development of a classification and description system including facets as further descriptors.

FoodEx, food description and classification systems, exposure assessment, food consumption data, dietary surveys