Use of the Core Food Model to Estimate Mineral Intakes Part 1. Selection of U.S. Core Foods

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The core food dietary intake model may be used to assess the average daily consumption of nutrients and other food components by a population and by population subgroups. The core food model identifies the most commonly consumed foods for a population and uses these foods to represent the entire food supply. For this project, 306 core foods of the U.S. diet were selected using food consumption data from the 1994–1996 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII). The USDA CSFII included about 15 000 participants, who provided a 24-h diet recall and a 1-day food record. The core foods were identified by aggregating the 5703 foods consumed by survey participants into groups based on food type, food use, and similarity of composition. The foods within each grouping were ranked in terms of frequency of use and gram intake, and one food item within each group was selected to become a core food and represent its group. Each core food assumed the full dietary intake (gram weight) for all the foods in its group. The 306 core foods are listed within 42 subgroups organized by food type and common use. The list of 306 core foods may be shortened by further aggregation to match the needs of different investigators. For example, limited data on food composition may warrant the use of a shorter core food list.