How Reference Entries
Are Built and Verified.
Each piece of nutritional information published under the Tarinova name follows a documented review sequence. This page describes that sequence in full — from initial source identification through independent cross-check to archived publication.
Five Stages from Source to Archive
Primary Source Identification
Every entry begins with identification of primary source data — peer-reviewed nutritional composition tables from recognised food data authorities, including the UK Nutrient Databank, USDA FoodData Central, and the European Food Composition database (EuroFIR). Anecdotal, product-sponsored, or single-author data sources are excluded at this stage.
A minimum of two primary sources per food category is required before a draft entry can proceed. Where sources disagree on macronutrient figures by more than 8%, a third independent source is sought and the discrepancy is noted in the archived entry.
Compositional Analysis & Data Structuring
Raw data is structured into the Tarinova Compositional Format (TCF) — a standardised entry schema covering macronutrient distribution per 100g, key micronutrient presence (with threshold flags for low, moderate, and notable concentrations), seasonal availability window, and preparation-method impact notes.
Preparation-method impact is one of the most consistently under-documented aspects of food composition in consumer-facing references. Tarinova records boiling, steaming, roasting, fermentation, and raw consumption separately where composition varies by more than 10% between methods.
Independent Cross-Verification
Structured draft entries are submitted to a third-party verification pass. This involves cross-referencing the draft against published independent datasets not used in Step 01, checking for rounding errors, unit inconsistencies, and misattributed figures.
Ingredient profiles in Tarinova content are selected based on published nutritional research and undergo independent batch verification for quality and labelling accuracy. The cross-verification step produces a verification record attached to each archived entry, documenting which data points were confirmed and which carry acknowledged uncertainty ranges.
Seasonal Calibration & UK Sourcing Context
Before an entry is published to the archive, it is reviewed for UK seasonal alignment. Compositional data derived from out-of-season, imported, or forced-cultivation produce is flagged explicitly — UK seasonal availability is a default frame of reference for all guidance content.
Active ingredients are sourced from documented suppliers, with each batch accompanied by a certificate of composition. Sourcing prioritises suppliers whose facilities maintain food-grade processing standards. This step also applies to reference suppliers whose compositional data underpins archive entries.
Archive Publication & Revision Scheduling
Verified entries are published to the archive with a datestamp, revision number, and data-confidence rating. High-confidence entries (three or more concordant sources, verified across preparation methods) carry a full-confidence marker. Entries with acknowledged uncertainty are flagged accordingly.
Each entry carries a scheduled next-review date — typically 12 months from publication. Entries whose subject area has seen significant new research are placed on an accelerated review schedule regardless of original publication date. All revisions are logged with a diff summary in the archive record.
What Each Archive Entry Contains
Macronutrient Table
Carbohydrates, proteins, and fats per 100g. Fibre content and net carbohydrate figures provided where relevant. Values cross-referenced across a minimum of two independent datasets.
Micronutrient Profile
Key vitamins and minerals with concentration thresholds (low / moderate / notable). Flags indicate where a single serving provides a meaningful contribution to daily intake reference values.
Preparation-Method Variables
Separate composition notes for raw, boiled, steamed, roasted, and fermented states where applicable. Changes of more than 10% in any macronutrient or key micronutrient are specifically documented.
UK Seasonal Window
Month-by-month availability for UK-grown produce. Imported-year-round produce is noted separately. Storage guidance indicates how season length affects compositional integrity over time.
Data Confidence Rating
Each entry carries one of three confidence ratings: Full (three or more concordant independent sources), Partial (two sources, minor discrepancy noted), or Provisional (fewer than two sources or significant inter-source variance).
Where Compositional Data Originates
Tarinova does not generate original laboratory measurement data. The studio's role is to compile, structure, and independently verify data produced by recognised food composition research institutions. The primary data supply chain is therefore academic and governmental rather than commercial.
Core reference databases accessed in the Tarinova methodology include the McCance and Widdowson Composition of Foods tables (UK), EuroFIR-affiliated national food composition datasets, and published peer-reviewed studies providing updated composition figures for specific food categories.
Where a commercial food product is referenced in guidance content — for example, a branded fermented product or a specific flour variety — compositional data is taken from the product's own labelling, cross-checked against the category average in the archive, and noted as product-specific rather than generic.
UK Nutrient Databank (NDNS)
Primary reference for UK-specific food composition. Annual survey updates accessed as published by Public Health England / UKHSA.
EuroFIR National Datasets
European food composition data used for cross-reference and for food categories with limited UK-specific data. Used as secondary verification source only.
Peer-Reviewed Literature
Published studies from indexed nutritional science journals used when updating specific food categories where database data lags published research by more than 24 months.
Common Questions About the Process
Review What the Archive Covers
A full overview of food categories, guidance programmes, and individual consultation offerings available through Tarinova.