A Partnership for Public Health
USDA Global Branded Food Products Database
A Public-Private Partnership Advancing Food and Nutrition Data
The goal of "A Partnership for Public Health: USDA Global Branded Food Products Database" is to improve public health and the sharing of open data by expanding and enhancing USDA’s FoodData Central website. These enhancements include compiling nutrient composition and ingredient information on branded foods and private label data provided by the food industry. The publicly available database contains mandatory label information as well as voluntary attributes and meta data on individual food items allowing for a true assessment of the extent and fluidity of the food system. It also ensures that these data elements are available to those who will utilize them.
The Public-Private Partnership includes: USDA, IAFNS, GS1 US, 1WorldSync by Syndigo and the University of Maryland.
The USDA Global Branded Food Products Database (GBFPD) is a voluntary initiative. However, once a manufacturer or retailer decides to participate and submit data to the GBRPD, they must provide the following required product information:
- product name and generic descriptor
- serving size in grams or milliliters
- nutrients on the ‘Nutrition Facts Panel’ per serving size and 100 gram-basis, 100 ml-basis, or fluid oz-basis
- ingredient list, (never before captured by USDA); and
- date stamp associated with most current product formulation.
All data is archived, allowing for the tracking of dietary trends by researchers, managers and administrators.
The USDA Global Branded Food Products Database officially launched on 16 September 2016 at the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition (GODAN) Summit.
Update
Publication Date
Update on “A Partnership for Public Health: USDA Global Branded Food Products Database”
Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 2022
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Access the USDA Global Branded Food Products Database
A public resource developed through A Partnership for Public Health to expand access to branded food composition and ingredient data.
FAQ
A Partnership for Public Health: The USDA Global Branded Food Products Database is a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS), GS1 US, 1WorldSync, by Syndigo and the University of Maryland, whose goal is to enhance public health and to share open data by augmenting the USDA FoodData Central with nutrient composition and ingredient information on branded foods. The USDA Global Branded Food Products Database is seamlessly integrated into the USDA FoodData Central, and ensures that these data elements are publicly available to those who will utilize them. This includes, but is not limited to, federal agencies, the research community, international databases, proprietary databases and end users, the food industry, and consumers.
The USDA Global Branded Food Products Database was unveiled in September 2016. Data submissions to the USDA Global Branded Food Products Database are voluntary; however, if a manufacturer or retailer participates, they must agree to and submit a set of mandatory product attributes agreed upon by the Partners. The publicly available and updated continuously.
The USDA Global Branded Food Products Database is hosted by USDA’s National Agricultural Library, who also enhanced the search program to improve the user interface. The USDA Global Branded Food Products Database is accessed through the same search program as the USDA FoodData Central, but is clearly identified as a distinctive but connected Database. This search program allows immediate access to these data and the format is standardized to that of the former USDA National Nutrient Database.
The USDA Global Branded Food Products Database includes information on:
- the product name and generic descriptor
- serving size (RACC) in gram or ml weight,
- nutrients shown on the Nutrition Facts Panel or the Expanded Nutrition Facts Panel per serving size and 100 gram-basis or 100 ml-basis,
- the ingredient list and sub-list, and
- a date stamp associated with the most current product formulation (effective date of submission).
All data will be archived; historical data on food products will allow for tracking dietary trends. The USDA Global Branded Food Products Database expands the USDA FoodData Central to better reflect the nation’s food supply.
The composition of the food supply and consumer dietary choices are key inputs for agricultural and food policy decisions. This requires comprehensive food composition data, but the volume and fluidity of the food supply in the U.S. marketplace are key challenges to the robustness of such data. Expertise to compile branded and private label data, and private sector engagement in voluntarily providing data are necessary to maximize content and provide needed information for nutrition, agricultural, and diet-related health policies. This endeavor is best pursued through a public-private partnership.
Various sectors of the research community, the public health community, the food industry, policy officials, and consumers find this Database valuable. For example, the Database:
- enhances the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) by more accurately characterizing food selection and nutrient intakes for Americans;
- enables nutrition software developers to produce enhanced software so that dietitians can provide more specific dietary guidance to individual clients;
- enables researchers to better link dietary intakes to chronic disease measures;
- enables policy development that promotes public health; and
- enables food manufacturers to use the USDA Global Branded Food Products Database to develop new product formulations.
- Over time, the data available publicly in the USDA Global Branded Food Products Database may be indexed or syndicated into consumer facing search engines, and will be available more broadly through sites linking to and pulling from the source site data.
Below is information about data submission to the USDA Branded Food Products Database.
Brands who are leveraging the GS1 Global Data Synchronization Network, can synchronize product data directly to the USDA Global Branded Food Products Database using certified providers like 1WorldSync, by Syndigo. 1WorldSync, by Syndigo offers users the ability to upload and validate data in any format needed. 1WorldSync, by Syndigo solutions use the system of GS1 Standards at the core of their solutions to drive efficiencies of scale and more seamlessly communicate product information.
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- For more than 40 years, the Global Trade Item Number® (GTIN) (also known as the U.P.C. number) has served an important purpose of providing a unique product identification for a food product which has been leveraged by the USDA Global Branded Food Products Database.
For more information, please click here.
The USDA FoodData Central is widely recognized as the gold standard for food composition data. Many databases, including proprietary databases, build from the USDA FoodData Central. The USDA Global Branded Food Products Database expands the USDA FoodData Central with timely data submissions and is scalable to manage a large volume of food product information, enabling real-time linkage of food intake and nutrient composition to dietary patterns recommendations. The Public-Private Partnership is moving into the global expansion of the Database following the strong reception at the International Congress in Nutrition (ICN) in 2017.
SmartLabel™ is a tool that gives consumers a way to get more detailed ingredient information about a wide range of food, beverage, and personal care products. This transparency program, created by the Grocery Manufacturers Association, its member companies, and retailers, enables consumers to access additional details about products by scanning a barcode or doing an online search to reach a landing page with information on ingredients and other attributes, such as third-party certifications and social compliance programs. It recognizes that consumers want to go well beyond an ingredient list. They want to know, “what is that ingredient?”, “why is it in my food?”, “what does it do?” and even “where does it come from?” The USDA Global Branded Food Products Database is integrated into the existing USDA FoodData Central to provide researchers, academicians, government agencies and database users with nutrient composition and ingredient information on branded and private label foods and beverages
US Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Founded in 1862, USDA is the U.S. federal executive department that provides leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, rural development, nutrition, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management. USDA funds/manages internal and external programs that conduct research, set public policy and disseminate information regarding food, nutrition, healthy eating and the relationship between agricultural production and optimal nutrition.
- Contact: Mike Grusak, National Program Leader, Nutrition, Food Safety and Quality, mike.grusak@usda.gov
- Communications Contact: Christopher Bentley, Communications Director, christopher.bentley@ars.usda.gov
Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS)
IAFNS is a non-profit, charitable scientific organization that catalyzes food and nutritional sciences in support of public health. To achieve its mission, IAFNS brings together scientists from government, academia, industry, and other sectors to work collaboratively to deliver scientific research, publications, workshops, conferences, and other scientific activities. IAFNS receives substantial funding from industry collaborators, and critically important financial and in-kind support from international organizations, government agencies, academic institutions, and private foundations, as well.
- Contact: Trish Zecca, Senior Nutrition Program Manager, tzecca@iafns.org
GS1 US
GS1 US® enables companies to power their supply chains to deliver safe, consistent, authentic, and trusted experiences. Best known as a source for UPC barcodes, GS1 is a not-for-profit, global data standards organization that creates a common language for companies to identify, capture, and share trusted data that links their physical and digital supply chains. Millions of businesses around the world power commerce with GS1 Standards. Learn more at https://www.gs1us.org.
- Communications contact: Shannon Sullivan, Senior Director of Public Relations, GS1 US: ssullivan@gs1us.org
- Business contact: Angela Fernandez, Senior Vice President, Market Development, GS1 US: afernandez@gs1us.org
1WorldSync, by Syndigo
1WorldSync, by Syndigo® is the leader in Product Content Syndication, enabling more than 18,000 companies in over 60 countries to simplify the creation and distribution of impactful content that’s accurate, consistent and relevant everywhere commerce happens. Through its technology platform and expert services, 1WorldSync, by Syndigo provides continuous content optimization helping clients win at every shelf; control all content and data flows at every point; and leverage the largest global two-sided network in order to harness today’s exponential data growth. 1WorldSync, by Syndigo is the only product content provider and GDSN Data Pool to achieve ISO Certification 27001.
Contact hello@1worldsync.com for more information.
University of Maryland, College Park's Center for Food Safety and Security Systems (CFS3) and the Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN)
The Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) was established between the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the University of Maryland (UM) in April 1996. The Institute is a jointly administered, multidisciplinary research, education and outreach program.
The Institute fosters the missions of FDA and the University through the creation of partnerships to increase the quantity and quality of research, which will provide the basis for sound public health policy. It promotes food safety, human nutrition, and animal health and production through integrated research, education, and outreach programs. Opportunities exist for collaborative projects with Federal and state agencies, private industry, consumer and trade groups, and international organizations with mutual interests.
The University provides logistical and knowledge support in the mapping and transferring of provided industry label data to be disseminated into the USDA Branded Food Products Database. The University is also facilitating future updates to the public database to enhance the database offerings and optimize the transfer process.
- Contact: David Pan, IT Systems Programmer, Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, University of Maryland, College Park, dpan@umd.edu
- Communications Contact: Graham Binder, Director, binderg@umd.edu
IAFNS' Involvement
A Presidential Memo on 28 October 2011 directed agencies to develop public-private partnerships in areas of importance to the agency's mission. In response, Dr. Catherine Woteki, Under Secretary and Chief Science Officer of the USDA at the time, developed multiple initiatives, including one to augment the USDA FoodData Central website with compositional data on branded food products. As part of the USDA response to the Presidential Memorandum, USDA approached IAFNS to see if the organization would join with the Agency in a public-private partnership to enhance USDA FoodData Central with branded and private label food products.
