Hubris: Over weening pride or self confidence Webster's Third International Dictionary Murphy's Law: What ever can go wrong, will go wrong! Anonymous
As I read the various manuscripts submitted to the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis I am often reminded of the word ''hubris.'' More than a few authoranalysts claim that there is no need for assay quality control because ''their laboratory is expert in this field and knows how to assay for . . .'' and more than a few authordata base managers claim that there is no need for inclusion of references to the original analytical studies or of the documentation of how the data entry value was obtained because ''our data base is known to be the gold standard. . . .'' Such statements truly meet the definition of hubris.
However, Murphy lives and Murphy's law always applies to food composition data. Most working analysts know that some analytical methods are not appropriate for some matrices. Furthermore, most working analysts are painfully aware that they can make mistakes during the analytical process. Most of those who produce food composition data bases know that many errors are possible in the development of data base values.
Given the real and continuing probability of analytical error and human mistakes, I personally believe that all assay methods should contain assay quality control protocols and that each individual assay data set should be validated by the assay of some type of laboratory reference material. Furthermore, I believe that all food composition data bases should have, as integral components, references to the original analytical studies and documentation of how each data entry value was obtained. Documentation is the crucial factor for quality control procedures. Those providing food composition data must be conscientious in providing the documentation on all aspects of acquiring, reporting, and compiling of food composition data so that the users of the food composition data can evaluate the usefulness of those data for their purposes.
No one and no system is perfect. One never knows when Murphy's law will be applicable. Caution, quality control, and documentation are always advised when acquiring and reporting food composition data.