The limited resources available for chemical analyses of components of interest in food has forced scientists to bor row data from published food composition works of other countries. Due to language barriers, this is often undertaken without due knowledge of the background and the instruc tions for use. This collection of introductions, translated in to English, of frequently cited, published food tables has been compiled with the assistance and cooperation of many collaborators throughout the world. We hope that the result will facilitate a more appropriate and extensive use of foreign food...