Which Australian food composition database should I use?

Aim: This paper describes the differences between the NUTTAB and AUSNUT food composition databases now available in Australia. Method: The NUTTAB and AUSNUT food composition databases are described in detail by officers of Food Standards Australia New Zealand directly involved in the database management and development. The positions of Food Standards Australia New Zealand in terms of revisions and policy directions are given from an authoritative perspective. Results: Food Standards Australia New Zealand develops two different sets of food composition databases, NUTTAB and AUSNUT. NUTTAB is a reference database that contains primarily analysed data for Australian foods. AUSNUT is a survey database that contains only data that are directly relevant to the particular national nutrition survey for which it was developed. These databases are available free of change from the Food Standards Australia New Zealand website. Conclusions: Food Standards Australia New Zealand develops two distinct series of food composition databases. Users will need to be aware of the similarities and differences of each database type to be able to determine which is the most suitable for their needs.