Are U.S. Food Supply Nutrient Estimates Comparable to Nutrient Estimates on FAO Food Balance Sheets?
A. The U.S. food supply series continues to be the major source of U.S. dietary information with which international comparisons can be made. The methodologies used to estimate foods and nutrients available for consumption in the United States are similar to those used by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations for other countries. Both methodologies are based on the concept of food balance sheets, which include data on the supply and utilization of food. Thus, these data can be used to compare the U.S. diet with diets of other countries.
