The Food Availability Data System (FADS) provides estimates of aggregate food demand in the United States by tracking production, trade, processing, and stocks of foods. FADS data is uniquely suited for understanding population-level food demand and the links between supply and demand. It has been widely used by researchers in fields like agriculture economics, public health, nutrition, and environmental science to study trends in the U.S. food system and impacts of factors like commodity prices, dietary guidance, food safety incidents, and climate change. While limited in providing data on specific foods or households, FADS remains a key resource for answering important questions about U.S. food system performance.