INFORMATION.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS INFORMATION ON THE FOOD CON- SUMPTION AND DIETARY LEVELS OF U.S. HOUSEHOLDS AND INDIV- IDUALS FOR USE IN ADMINISTERING A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS. CURRENT SURVEY METHODOLOFY IS BURDENSOME ON RESPONDENTS, LABOR INTENSIVE, TIME-CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE TO ADMINISTER.PUBLICATION OF RESULTS IS FROM FOUR TO FIVE YEARS AFTER DATACOLLECTION WHICH TENDS TO LOWER ITS VALUE IN DECISIONMAKING.A NEW DEVELOPMENT IN FOOD MARKETING RESEARCH IS A MACHINE WHICH CAN BE USED BY HOME PANELISTS THAT "READS" INFORMATIONDIRECTLY FROM FOOD PACKAGES AS TAKEN FROM SHOPPING BAGS. THIS PROJECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MODERNIZE FOOD CONSUMPTIONSURVEYS. THIS PROJECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MODERNIZE FOOD CONSUMPTION METHODOLOGY WITH CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGY AND COULD RESULT IN RAPID AVAILABILITY OF SURVEY DATA FOR GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY AND ACADEMIC USE.