Food Analysis and the German Nutrient Database

The German Nutrient Database (Bundeslebensmittelschlüssel, BLS) is the German national food composition database for which the Institute for Nutritional Behaviour at the MRI takes responsibility. The BLS contains the average nutrient values of almost 15,000 foods based on data from national cooperation partners or on those generated at the Max Rubner-Institut. Thus, the Department of Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables contributes to the database by way of determinations of the macro nutrients (fats, carbohydrates and proteins) and micro nutrients (e.g. vitamins) in foods. Standardized methodology based on §64 LFGB (German food and feed laws, i.e. the Lebens- und Futtermittelgesetzbuch) is applied. Moreover new analysis methods are being developed and validated in the laboratories of our department. These food analysis methods are not only used for generating data for the BLS, but are also transferred to the research activities in the Department for Safety and Quality of Fruit and Vegetables.