Joelaine Chetty
South African Medical Research Council

Date:  Thursday, 16 July  

Time: 12:30  – 14:00

Venue:    VCRs, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban

The HSRC seminar series is funded by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The views and opinions expressed therein as well as findings and statements of the seminar series do not necessarily represent the views of DST.

Sourcing of accurate nutrient information of a country’s food items consumed, is the main focus of the South African Food Data System (SAFOODS).  The vision of SAFOODS is to build a comprehensive food composition database to improve nutrition in South Africa. The specific objectives of our team are: (1) to compile country-specific food composition data for South Africa; (2) increase the number of foods with country-specific information; (3) collaborate with food composition data generators; (4) encourage the food industry to become involved in the generation of food composition data; (5) educate the users of food composition data on the correct use of food composition data and (6) encourage the laboratories to practice quality control of the analytical data. 

Another important strategy to advance the science of food composition was the launch of the SAFOODS website targeted at the nutrition fraternity to enable them to have access to select nutrient composition of foods and aspects regarding the determination of the composition of foods, e.g. proper sampling procedures, notes on the correct choice of methods for nutrient analysis and links to South African analytical laboratories.  Products produced from SAFOODS include the printed food composition tables and the dietary analysis software programme FoodFinder3, are tools used for nutrition research.

The seminar may be attended in Pretoria, Cape Town or Durban

RSVP by 15 July

Cape Town: Carmen August (021) 466 7827, caugust@hsrc.ac.za   12th Floor, Plein Park Building, Plein Street, Cape Town
Durban: Ridhwaan Khan (031) 242 5400, rkhan@hsrc.ac.za   1st Floor, 750 Francois Road, Ntuthuko Junction, Pods 5 and 6, Cato Manor
Pretoria: Arlene Grossberg (012) 302 2811, acgrossberg@hsrc.ac.za  1st  Floor, HSRC Building, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria