The Hindu : Front Page : NIN project to study nutritive values of foods

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Sep 02, 2006

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NIN project to study nutritive values of foods

T. Lalith Singh

Research team also eyes trends on fast catching up processed food

HYDERABAD: A thorough overhaul of nutritive values of different foods consumed in the country is on the anvil with Hyderabad-based National Institute of Nutrition (NIN) setting out on an ambitious project, estimated to cost Rs. 20 crores, spread over a period of five years.

The data on nutritive value was last revised in 1971 and thereafter only updated. NIN research team feels time has come to revamp the old food composition data and also to have inputs on processed food that is fast catching up in the country.

1,000 entries in list

In effect, the data provides composition in terms of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, fat, fibre content, essential acids and other nutrients in rice, cereals, vegetables and oils commonly used here. The existing data has almost 650 items and new initiative hopes to expand the list to about 1,000 entries.

Food composition data is not only useful in assessing the dietary intake and evaluating the nutriment offered by different foods, but also to provide key inputs for the food industry, planners and exporters.

Individuals can also gain from this for selecting a right choice of balanced diet.

Data revision

"The data needs to be revised regularly. We intend to collect samples of different varieties from all regions of the country and use 75 parameters to arrive at the values," says T. Longvah, NIN Deputy Director and Head, Analytical Chemistry Division.

The project is extensive and a costly initiative. "We are expecting support from the Planning Commission, the Women and Child Welfare Department, the Department of Science and Technology and the Indian Council of Agriculture Research, among others," he says.

"Once the data is ready, we plan to put the entire information on the Internet. Any one can avail himself of the data at a mere click of the mouse," says K. Bhaskarachary, Research Officer.

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