Ask-A-Question

FNIC Nutrition Information Specialists are experienced Registered Dietitians available to help you locate resources and information and to answer food and nutrition questions if you can not find what you are searching for on our site. Use our form or see below for in person or mail contact information.

*Please note that we cannot provide individual medical nutrition advice such as recommendations for foods for special diets or conditions (i.e., diabetes), calorie levels, or advice about whether to use dietary supplements. Consult with your healthcare provider or a Registered Dietitian instead. We also cannot help with homework questions, but can assist with your research.

  • Can't find what you are looking for?
    Check out our Topics A-Z or our Site Map.

  • Looking for nutrient composition of foods?
    Visit our Food Composition page or use the USDA Nutrient Data Laboratory Online Search Tool.

  • Wondering about dietary supplements?
    Find credible resources on our Dietary Supplements page.

  • Want to know what makes a healthy diet or how to evaluate food intake?
    Search our Dietary Guidance Resources, or check out the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010 or MyPlate.

  • Planning a health fair, school project, or nutrition education lesson and need resources?
    Check out our "Sources of Free and Low Cost Nutrition Education Materials" Resource List.

  • Need information about USDA Food Assistance programs like SNAP (formerly Food Stamps), WIC and School Meals?
    Find program links on our Nutrition Assistance Programs page or visit the USDA Food and Nutrition Service.

  • Looking to develop/market new food products or supplements?
    View our Food Entrepreneurship page for resources or contact the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.

  • Want food safety or HACCP information?
    Visit the Food Safety Information Center (FSIC) or check out FSRIO's Common Questions.

  • Questions about home canning and freezing?
    Visit the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

  • Still can't find what you're looking for?
    Try our Food and Nutrition Information Center Custom Search Engine, which will search for information from other relevant and credible sources that have been specially selected:


    • You may also Ask a Question via the following:

    In person: Nutrition Information Specialists are available Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. EST, at the National Agricultural Library (NAL). Or you can ask your question at the DC Reference Center (DCRC) and the staff will relay it to a Nutrition Information Specialist at NAL.

    By fax: (301) 504-6409

    By post mail:
    Food and Nutrition Information Center
    National Agricultural Library
    10301 Baltimore Avenue, Room 108
    Beltsville, MD 20705

    E-mail FNIC

    To send a question to FNIC, fill out the form below.

    Due to a back-log of questions that we are currently working through, please understand there will be a delay in receiving a response to your question. We cannot provide estimated response times, so if your request is time-sensitive, please use the FNIC Custom Search Engine at the top of the Contact Us page to research your question. Thank you for your patience.