LAUSR

Papers in the present editorial project highlight various aspects of new issues and topics, new methodologies, and new technologies, which have become increasingly important in recent years. New technologies allow researchers to reduce the burden of participants and surveyors. To obtain reliable results is questionable if it is necessary to address scientific general topics such as proper survey design. Managing non-random errors is crucial for accuracy because it limits uncertainty and makes it possible to identify new issues to analyse. Gazan et al. addresses methodological issues by designing a suitable tool for investigating dietary patterns on a large scale and develops a validated food frequency questionnaire. The following article (Athanasatou et al.) is focused on validating indicators for dietary adequacy evaluation. Data management and processing topics such as (a) data quality from underpinning databases (nomenclatures and food information—food description and coding, portion sizes, “working” food composition, quantification tools, e.g., photographic food book, recipes) must be carefully maintained; and (b) procedures for data cleaning (ensuring accuracy), completing (e.g., calculating indexes), food matching and, processing at statistical level (i.e., defining the data matrix and defining the most suitable statistical models) need to be validated and software systems need to be implemented. The article related to quantification of food intake describes an experience related to building (Nikolić et al.) which represents the main quantification tool as indicated in the EU-Menu methodology (1). Software used to deal with food matching (Lamarine et al.) have been addressed in the paper here published thus contributing to the development of an automated food matching tool as proposed in the EURODISH1 project (2). Investigating new topics related to the increasing adoption of the self-reporting approach is crucial to ensure data reliability. It is discussed in the paper (Banna et al.). Finally, use of data is another feature which is carefully addressed and analyzed in Archer et al.. The article encourages researchers to continue to develop suitable protocols for new perspectives (3) but also to explain the correct use of epidemiological studies. In fact, the paper clearly highlights that epidemiological data are misused. The set of papers here presented provides starting points for a general reflection on purposes, features, and use of dietary assessment within new perspectives, particularly in building research infrastructures (4). The main objective in carrying out surveys is to get a large set of information which allows scientists to analyse indicators in a comparative way. In fact, epidemiological studies are aimed at