Method | |
Updated 2017-04-30 |
Method - the ways to determine values in food composition databases |
In a broad sense, the term 'method' in food composition refers to the way a certain value has been derived for presentation in the food composition database or table, i.e. has the value been obtained by analysis, by calculation or by deduction, e.g. from another food or by logical deduction.
It is important to indicate how the specific values in a food composition table/database have been derived - is the value a result of chemical analysis, a calculation or estimated/guess (a "guestimate")?
In the draft EuroFIR standard, the value is described with a
series of mandatory descriptors using predefined controlled terms in
the form of thesauri.
The overall and mandatory value description follows the value
closely - in the figure below in the Value table - with Value Type,
Acqusisition Type, Method Type, Method Indicator and Method
Parameter information. All defined by controlled vocabularies, the
socalled EuroFIR Thesauri.
The method specification is a main (currently not
mandatory) entity in the draft EuroFIR standard's table metaphor
contains detailed description of the analytical or calculation
method used to derive the specific value.
The content of the method specification (shown with a red frame in
the simple database layout below) is mainly intended for specific
chemical (and microbiological) analytical information, but is also
suitable for detailed description of calculation methods. The
information occupies a database table of its own.
The Eurofoods Draft Standard (and its Technical Annex) was further refined with the EuroFIR Food Data Transport Package, which in details refined and expanded the previously defined entities.
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