Global Functional Comparison of Professional Nutrient Analysis Software Packages - Updated Summer 2002

The following comparison of professional nutritional analysis software packages is based on a survey sent to all qualified software companies known to Nu Connexions.  This comparison is not intended to be a critical review of the software systems included in it, but rather a functional comparison of software that can utilize nutrient databases from specified countries.

Note: Reported functionality is based on software versions shipping as of June, 2002 (unless features were specified by the vendors as becoming available by the end of 2002 or early 2003).

Suggestions for software systems produced outside North America were obtained through an e-mail broadcast sent to a number of relevant professional listservs.  As stated in the e-mail and survey sent to vendors, qualifications for inclusion in this survey/comparison were as follows:

• The software must be intended for use by food/nutrition/healthcare professionals.  Software or editions of the software that are primarily targeted for use by consumers or the general public do not qualify for inclusion in this functional comparison survey.  [Note: Three online software systems designed for self-use by the general public were later sent the survey for inclusion in the comparison due to the fact that they are used as a vehicle for counseling interactions between consumers and health professionals.  Only one of these three chose to respond.]

• Nutrient analysis [or food intake analysis] must be a primary function of the software.  It is recognized that additional functions may be performed by the software (or by add-on modules of the software), but nutrient analysis must be one of the functions performed.

Nineteen companies and organizations (out of forty-five approached) responded to the survey. Twenty-six companies or organizations chose not to respond, either for competitive reasons or they felt their software was not primarily intended to provide nutrient analysis functions for the professional market.  These companies and organizations are still listed for reference purposes at the bottom of their originating region's listing, but are not hyperlinked on the list of vendors that received the survey.