Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Feasibility of dietary assessment methods, other tools and procedures for a pan-European food consumption survey among infants, toddlers and children

  • Original Contribution
  • Published:
European Journal of Nutrition Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To test the feasibility of tools and procedures for a pan-European food consumption survey among children 0–10 years and to recommend one of two tested dietary assessment methods.

Methods

Two pilot studies including 378 children were conducted in Belgium and the Czech Republic in the Pilot studies for Assessment of Nutrient intake and food Consumption among Kids in Europe. One protocol included a 3-day food diary which was checked with a parent, and data were entered afterwards using EPIC-Soft. The alternative protocol consisted of two non-consecutive 1-day food diaries followed by EPIC-Soft completion interviews. Both protocols included general and food propensity questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. The protocols were compared using evaluation questionnaires among the participating parents and study personnel.

Results

The parents found the questionnaires and instructions for filling in the food diaries understandable. Food description and food quantification was evaluated as problematic by 29 and 15 % of the participants for the 3-day diaries versus 15 and 12 % for the 1-day diaries. The protocol with 1-day food diaries was evaluated as less burdensome by the parents and logistically more challenging by the interviewers.

Conclusions

Both dietary assessment methods with related tools and administration protocols were evaluated as feasible. The administration protocol with two 1-day food diaries with completion interviews offers more advantages for the future pan-European survey in children 0–10 years. The positive evaluation of feasibility of tools and materials is an important step towards harmonised food consumption data at European level among the younger age groups.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. EFSA (2009) General principles for the collection of national food consumption data in the view of a pan-European dietary survey. EFSA J 7:1435

    Google Scholar 

  2. Elmadfa I, Meyer A, Nowak V et al (2009) European nutrition and health report 2009. Forum Nutr 62:1–405

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Brussaard JH, Lowik MR, Steingrimsdottir L et al (2002) A European food consumption survey method–conclusions and recommendations. Eur J Clin Nutr 56(Suppl 2):S89–S94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. de Boer EJ, Slimani N, van ‘t Veer P et al (2011) The European food consumption validation project: conclusions and recommendations. Eur J Clin Nutr 65(Suppl 1):S102–S107

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Andersen LF, Lioret S, Brants H et al (2011) Recommendations for a trans-European dietary assessment method in children between 4 and 14 years. Eur J Clin Nutr 65(Suppl 1):S58–S64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Trolle E, Amiano P, Ege M et al (2011) Feasibility of repeated 24-h dietary recalls combined with a food-recording booklet, using EPIC-Soft, among preschoolers. Eur J Clin Nutr 65(Suppl 1):S84–S86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Trolle E, Amiano P, Ege M et al (2011) Feasibility of 2 × 24-h dietary recalls combined with a food-recording booklet, using EPIC-Soft, among schoolchildren. Eur J Clin Nutr 65(Suppl 1):S65–S76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Ocké MC, Van Rossum CTM, Fransen HP et al (2008) Dutch national food consumption survey young children 2005/2006. RIVM-report 350070001. RIVM: Bilthoven

  9. De Boer EJ, Hulshof KFAM, Ter Doest D (2006) Voedselconsumptie van jonge peuters: V6269. TNO, Zeist

    Google Scholar 

  10. Trolle E, Vandevijvere S, Ruprich J et al (2013) Validation of a food quantification picture book targeting children of 0–10 years of age for pan-European and national dietary surveys. Br J Nutr 110:2298–2308

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Slimani N, Deharveng G, Charrondiere RU et al (1999) Structure of the standardized computerized 24-h diet recall interview used as reference method in the 22 centers participating in the EPIC project. European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition. Comput Methods Programs Biomed 58:251–266

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Slimani N, Casagrande C, Nicolas G et al (2011) The standardized computerized 24-h dietary recall method EPIC-Soft adapted for pan-European dietary monitoring. Eur J Clin Nutr 65(Suppl 1):S5–S15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Freisling H, Ocke MC, Casagrande C et al (2014) Comparison of two food record-based dietary assessment methods for a pan-European food consumption survey among infants, toddlers, and children using data quality indicators. Eur J Nutr. doi:10.1007/s00394-014-0727-7

  14. Crispim SP, de Vries JH, Geelen A et al (2011) Two non-consecutive 24 h recalls using EPIC-Soft software are sufficiently valid for comparing protein and potassium intake between five European centres-results from the European food consumption validation (EFCOVAL) study. Br J Nutr 105:447–458

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Eurostat (2006) European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) questionnaire: English version. http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_information/implement/wp/systems/docs/ev_20070315_ehis_en.pdf. Accessed 18 March 2010

  16. CDC (2007) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Anthropometry procedure manual. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhanes/nhanes_07_08/manual_an.pdf

  17. Temme E, Huybrechts I, Vandevijvere S et al (2010) Energy and macronutrient intakes in Belgium: results from the first national food consumption survey. Br J Nutr 103:1823–1829

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Jakubikova M, Dofkova M, Ruprich J (2011) Fruit and vegetable intake in the Czech child population. Public Health Nutr 14:1047–1054

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. De Vriese S, De Backer G, de Henauw S et al (2005) The Belgian food consumption survey: aims, design and methods. Arch Public Health 63:1–16

    Google Scholar 

  20. Hoffmann K, Boeing H, Dufour A et al (2002) Estimating the distribution of usual dietary intake by short-term measurements. Eur J Clin Nutr 56(Suppl 2):S53–S62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Lytle LA, Nichaman MZ, Obarzanek E et al (1993) Validation of 24-h recalls assisted by food records in third-grade children: the CATCH collaborative group. J Am Diet Assoc 93:1431–1436

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Weber JL, Lytle L, Gittelsohn J et al (2004) Validity of self-reported dietary intake at school meals by American Indian children: the pathways study. J Am Diet Assoc 104:746–752

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Burrows TL, Martin RJ, Collins CE (2010) A systematic review of the validity of dietary assessment methods in children when compared with the method of doubly labeled water. J Am Diet Assoc 110:1501–1510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Ocke MC, Slimani N, Brants H et al (2011) Potential and requirements for a standardized pan-European food consumption survey using the EPIC-Soft software. Eur J Clin Nutr 65(Suppl 1):S48–S57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Knudsen VK, Fagt S, Trolle E et al (2012) Evaluation of dietary intake in Danish adults by means of an index based on food-based dietary guidelines. Food Nutr Res 56. doi:10.3402/fnr.v56i0.17129

  26. Ferrari P, Arcella D, Heraud F, Cappe S, Fabiansson S (2013) Impact of refining the assessment of dietary exposure to cadmium in the European adult population. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 30:687–697

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Boon PE, Te Biesebeek JD, Sioen I et al (2012) Long-term dietary exposure to lead in young European children: comparing a pan-European approach with a national exposure assessment. Food Addit Contam Part A Chem Anal Control Expo Risk Assess 29:1701–1715

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Verkaik-Kloosterman J, Fransen H, de Stoppelaar J, Verhagen H, Rompelberg C (2007) Safe addition of vitamins and minerals to foods: setting maximum levels for fortification in the Netherlands. Eur J Nutr 46:220–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Verkaik-Kloosterman J, Van ‘t Veer P, Ocké MC (2010) Reduction of salt: will iodine intake remain adequate in the Netherlands? Br J Nutr 104:1712–1718

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Molag ML, de Vries JH, Duif N et al (2010) Selecting informative food items for compiling food-frequency questionnaires: comparison of procedures. Br J Nutr 104:446–456

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Temme EH, van der Voet H, Thissen JT, Verkaik-Kloosterman J, van Donkersgoed G, Nonhebel S (2013) Replacement of meat and dairy by plant-derived foods: estimated effects on land use, iron and SFA intakes in young Dutch adult females. Public Health Nutr 16:1900–1907

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Vandevijvere S, Lachat C, Kolsteren P, Van Oyen H (2009) Eating out of home in Belgium: current situation and policy implications. Br J Nutr 102:921–928

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Hulshof KF, Valsta LM, Welten DC, Lowik MR (2001) Analytical approaches to food-based dietary guidelines in the European setting. Public Health Nutr 4:667–672

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The present study is a part of the PANCAKE project and has been funded in part by the European Food Safety Authority (CFP/EFSA/DATEX/2009/02). Sole responsibility lies with the authors. EFSA is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained therein, as stated by Article II. 5—Publicity of the Amendment No. 1 to Grant Agreement CFP/EFSA/DATEX/2009/02. The PANCAKE project report is available at http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/pub/339e.htm. As compared with the project report, we focus on specific aspects of the project in more detail including formal hypothesis testing. We thank all participants, interviewers and other personnel for their important contributions to this study.

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), PO Box 1, 3720 BA, Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    Marga Ocké, Henny Brants, Caroline van Rossum, Elisabeth Temme & Evelien de Boer

  2. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Lyon, France

    Heinz Freisling, Nadia Slimani & Inge Huybrechts

  3. Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Copenhagen, Denmark

    Ellen Trolle

  4. Scientific Institute of Public Health (IPH), Brussels, Belgium

    Stefanie Vandevijvere

  5. National Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Prague, Czech Republic

    Marcela Dofkova & Jiri Ruprich

Authors
  1. Marga Ocké
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Henny Brants
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marcela Dofkova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Heinz Freisling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Caroline van Rossum
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Jiri Ruprich
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Nadia Slimani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Elisabeth Temme
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Ellen Trolle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Stefanie Vandevijvere
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Inge Huybrechts
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Evelien de Boer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marga Ocké.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ocké, M., Brants, H., Dofkova, M. et al. Feasibility of dietary assessment methods, other tools and procedures for a pan-European food consumption survey among infants, toddlers and children. Eur J Nutr 54, 721–732 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-014-0750-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-014-0750-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation