The UK and USA food composition databases are not compatible with each other. This is because some nutrients are expressed differently. Therefore, the databases should not be used together, in the analysis of one food intake record, one recipe or one menu. To simply combine the two databases would be scientifically flawed and nutritional calculations would be incorrect. Differences between the UK and USA food composition databases are summarised below:

• Carbohydrate: values are obtained by analysis and expressed as monosaccharide equivalents in the UK. In the USA, values are obtained by difference and not analysed directly.
• Energy: this is derived from carbohydrate + protein + fat + alcohol. In the UK, carbohydrate (expressed as monosaccharide equivalents) is multiplied by 3.75 to calculate calories obtained. In the USA, carbohydrate (obtained by difference) is multiplied by 4 to calculate calories obtained.
• Fibre: the AOAC method is used in the US, in many other countries and for product labelling in the UK. The Englyst method is used for other purposes in the UK. AOAC values are generally higher than Englyst values. This is because the Englyst method analyses only non-starch polysaccharides, wheareas the AOAC method provides a value for non-starch polysaccharides plus resistant starch plus lignin.

It is reasonable to use USA food composition data for some nutrients, but only when the analysis is for a comparable food. Tinuviel Software products do contain both the UK and USA food composition databases. Either database can be used in isolation, to analyse intakes, recipes or menus. Users are, correctly, prevented from using both databases in the analysis of the same food intake record, the same recipe, or the same menu. Not all other software companies understand this, apparently.