Food composition
Food composition databases are essential tools that provide detailed information about the nutrients and other components found in foods. They are crucial for nutrition assessment, food policy, and health-related research.
These data support EFSA’s development of Dietary Reference Values (DRVs) – the set of nutrient recommendations and reference values, such as population reference intakes, the average requirement, adequate intake level and the lower threshold intake.
The first version of EFSA’s food composition database, established in 2013, hosts data for seven countries – Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, and United Kingdom. Vitamins and minerals that are included are calcium, copper, cobalamin, magnesium, niacin, phosphorus, potassium, riboflavin, thiamine, iron, selenium, vitamin B6, vitamin E, vitamin k and zinc.
Since then, the landscape has evolved significantly, the food industry is constantly changing, with frequent reformulations and shifting market shares, meaning food composition data can quickly become outdated.
Open Access European Food Composition Database (EU FCDB)
In response to these shifts, EFSA developed a new comprehensive Open Access European Food Composition database (EU FCDB) intended to provide harmonised and high-quality nutrient data on foods.
This EU FCDB fulfils the need for updated and reliable food composition data at European level to support scientific assessments, including nutrition-related opinions, risk assessments (e.g. on vitamins and minerals), and the evaluation of regulatory dossiers. Ultimately, it will also strengthen the robustness and consistency of dietary exposure assessments across Europe.
The new database also addresses limitations identified in previously collected data such as inconsistencies, outliers, missing values, limited alignment with current scientific needs, and incomplete coverage of foods and FoodEx2 codes used in EU Menu food consumption surveys.
By harmonising methodologies, standards, and quality requirements for data collection and maintenance, the EU FCDB supports the improved efficiency and scientific quality of outputs, while creating a valuable open data resource for researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
How the database was created
In a first step experts defined methodological and quality criteria for integrating national data into a harmonised EU-level database, ensuring consistency, reliability, and scientific robustness. Subsequently, food composition data covering approximately 28,000 food commodities, including fortified foods and food supplements, were collected and harmonised. These data are mapped to the latest version of the FoodEx2 classification system, along with relevant factors related to food composition at EU level.
The database integrates information from at least 16 national food composition databases across EU, EFTA (European Free Trade Association), and EU Pre-Accession countries, following an agreed data model and guidance. All data are submitted to EFSA through the Data Collection Framework (DCF), ensuring consistency, traceability, and long-term usability.