• July 13, 2011

Twenty-five local government health agencies plus consumer advocacy groups such as Consumers Union and the American Heart Association (34 organizations in all) have sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration petitioning for the creation of a national nutrition database.

The concept -- to create a database that enables consumers to access all of the nutritional information currently available on packaged foods -- is being led by New York City Commissioner of Health Dr. Thomas Farley.

The database would "foster competition for healthier products, driving the entire food supply to be healthier," NYC Office of Science and policy director  Lynn Silver told Crain's New York.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association did not return Crain's' request for comment.