This manual presents a practical step-by-step guide for assessing various aspects of natural food sources of vitamin A within a community and is essential for any research program involved in alleviating vitamin A deficiency. Prepared in cooperation with the Committee on Nutrition and Anthropology of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences, the manual describes how to set up and manage the assessment process and how to gather the essential data. Techniques are designed to answer key research questions about the local food system, about the availability of foods rich in vitamin A and their use by those at special risk of vitamin A deficiency (such as pregnant or lactating women, infants, and young children), and about cultural beliefs about food and the signs and symptoms of vitamin A deficiency. The manual is easy to read and includes forms for data collection. It is a companion to Culture, Environment, and Food to Prevent Vitamin A Deficiency.