Abstract: Objective We introduce the classification and coding of food of International Codex Alimentarius Commission,United States Department of Agriculture National Nutrition Database,German Codex Alimentarius and Nutrition Database,England Department of Public Health first;then we discuss the role,meaning,rules,and supplemental mechanisms of food classification and coding to give a more explicit annotation of food coding.The study aims to provide references to food coding practice in China and to implementation of food consumption surveys among Chinese populations.