Average Portion Size Research Articles

Empirically derived portion sizes from the DOrtmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed (DONALD) study for 4- to 18-year-old children and adolescents to simplify analysis of dietary data using FFQ.

To apply FFQ, knowledge about portion sizes is relevant. According to increased energy and nutrient requirements, average portion sizes of foods are supposed to increase during growth. We provide empirically derived portion sizes for 4- to 18-year-olds in different age groups to facilitate analyses of FFQ data in children and adolescents. Using data from the dynamic DOrtmund Nutritional and Anthropometric Longitudinally Designed cohort study, quantile regression for smoothing percentiles was used to derive portion sizes as a function of age from which age- and food group-specific portion sizes were calculated as median food group intake (g). Dortmund, Germany. Data from 3-day weighed dietary records (WDR) of 1,325 participants (♀: 653) were analysed. Participants provided in total 9,828 WDR (on average 7·5 per participant) between 1985 and 2022. WDR were grouped into five age groups, whereby each age group covered 3 years of age. In total, 11 955 food items were reported and categorised into sixteen major food groups with seventy-one sub-groups. Portion sizes tended to increase with age, except for milk- and plant-based alternatives. Comparing 4- to 6-year-olds to 16- to 18-year-olds, portion size increased between 22·2 % (processed meat: 18 g v. 22 g) and 173·3 % (savoury snacks: 15 g v. 41 g). We provide empirically derived portion sizes for children and adolescents. These data are useful to establish dietary assessment methods based on estimates of portion sizes, such as FFQ, for children and adolescents.

Methylmercury and mercury in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Turkish coast: Dietary exposure prediction

The spatial distribution of total mercury (HgT) and methylmercury (MeHg) in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) sampled at 23 different stations along Türkiye's Black Sea, the Marmara, and Aegean Sea coasts were investigated in this study. HgT and MeHg were determined using a direct mercury analyzer and ranged 1.10–130.70 μg/kg and 0.22–37.90 μg/kg dry weight, respectively. HgT and MeHg have been determined to have a substantial positive correlation (r2 = 0.94). According to average consumption and portion sizes, the weekly intake (EWI) for MeHg was less than the 1.6 μg/kg/week limits set by the FAO/WHO Joint Committee of Experts on Food Additives (JECFA) for both pediatric and adult consumers. The Target Risk Coefficients (THQ) were calculated to explain the potential long-term exposure scenarios. Our data showed that the excessive consumption of mussels from areas with high MeHg concentrations might pose a risk only for pediatric consumers. The determination of suitable sites for healthy-sustainable mussel production as well as the prevention of collecting mussels from illegal and polluted fields and placing them on the market, should be considered in the context of consumer health awareness.

The Effectiveness of a Web-Based Application for a Balanced Diet and Healthy Weight Among Indonesian Pregnant Women: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Pregnant women have self-declared that they have difficulties in estimating nutrient intakes. The Nutrition Information System for Indonesian Pregnant Women (SISFORNUTRIMIL) application was created as a dietary assessment and calorie-counting tool to guide pregnant women to eat the right portion sizes for each meal. The study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the SISFORNUTRIMIL application in helping users achieve a balanced diet and healthy maternal weight gain in comparison to nonusers in Indonesia. First-pregnancy women in the second trimester aged 19-30 years (N=112) participated in the randomized controlled trial. Recruited women who were eligible and consented to participate in the study were allocated into the intervention group, or application user (n=56), and the control group, or application nonuser (n=56). The intervention recommended that pregnant women consume at least 5 food groups and calculate a recommended average portion size for 12 weeks. Both groups were self-monitored and recorded their intake in food records for 3 days every week. The dietary diversity consumed, macro- and micronutrient intake, and maternal weight gain were assessed pre- and postintervention. Data were collected three times during the intervention. Diversity food consumption was measured by the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women of reproductive age. Furthermore, the Indonesian recommended dietary allowances were used to refer to and validate appropriate energy and nutrient amounts. Independent sample t test was used to compare differences between the intervention and control groups. The mean dietary diversity score for the application user group (7.79, SD 1.20) was significantly greater than for the application nonuser group (7.02, SD 1.39; adjusted mean difference 0.77, 95% CI 0.28-1.25; d=0.28; P=.005). Macro- and micronutrient intake was significantly more in accordance with the dietary recommendations for the user group compared to the control group, including an energy daily intake of 156.88 kcal (95% CI 114.52-199.23; d=-1.39; P=.002), 102.43 g of carbohydrates (95% CI -125.2 to -79.60; d=-1.68; P=.02), 14.33 g of protein (95% CI 11.40-17.25; d=1.86; P<.001), and 10.96 g of fat (95% CI -13.71 to -8.20; d=-1.49; P<.001). Furthermore, there was a significantly higher intake of daily vitamins and minerals in the intervention group than in the control group. Other results showed that maternal weight gain in the intervention group was in accordance with the parameters of healthy weight gain. Recording food intake using the application was significantly effective in improving the dietary diversity consumed, improving adequate energy and nutrient intake, and producing healthy maternal weight during pregnancy. ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN42690828; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN42690828.

39 Genetic Associations between Feeding Behavior and Economic Interest Traits in Group-Housed Broilers

Abstract This study aimed to assess the genetic relationship among feeding behavior (FB), feed efficiency (FE), and production traits in broilers. A total of 44,234,350 feeders visit logs from 55,400 birds allocated into 88 trials were recorded by radio-frequency identification system. The daily data were averaged per animal for FB traits, considering the entire trial period. FB traits included the number of meals (NMEAL, count/day), time spent at feeders (TSF, hours/day), average portion size (PS, g), feeding rate (FR, g/hour), feeding activity range (FAR, hours/day), number of visited stations (NVS, count/day), and number of visited feeders (NVF, count/day). The total feed intake (FI), residual feed intake (RFI), and feed conversion rate (FCR) were also considered. Further, the body weight was measured at the start (SBW) and ending (FBW) of the trial. Multi-trait animal models were fitted for estimating the (co)variance components, considering the effects of sex and contemporary group as fixed. FB traits presented moderate to high heritability (h2) values, ranging from 0.26±0.02 (FAR) to 0.58±0.02 (TSF), whereas for FE and growth traits the h2 ranged from 0.16±0.01 (FBW) to 0.27±0.02 (RFI). The traits NMEAL, NVS, NVF, and FAR presented negative genetic correlations with FI, SBW, and FBW (-0.36 to -0.13) while PS and FR were positively correlated with all FE and production traits (0.12 to 0.43). RFI only presented non-null genetic correlations with PS (0.26±0.04), FR (0.23±0.03), and NVS (-0.11±0.04). Similarly, NMEAL and NVS also presented a weak negative correlation with FCR (-0.12±0.05 and -0.17±0.05, respectively). FB traits have a sizable genetic component and, therefore, may present a fast response to selection. The results also suggest that future selection for welfare-related feeding behavior (e.g., NMEAL, NVS, and NVF) would not affect negatively FE traits, although it might result in lighter animal lines in the long term.

Subjective socioeconomic disadvantage is indirectly associated with food portion selection through perceived disruption of personal resources during a nationwide COVID-19 stay-at-home order

In addition to its public health implications, the global COVID-19 pandemic has also produced significant disruptions to individuals' socioeconomic resources and opportunities. Prior research has suggested that low subjective socioeconomic status (SSES) may stimulate appetite and motivate increased energy intake. Here, we tested whether individuals experiencing lower levels of SSES (SSES disadvantage) during a nationwide stay-at-home order for COVID-19 exhibited preferences for larger food portion sizes through perceived disruptions to personal financial and material resources. Data was collected near the conclusion of a nationwide partial lockdown (Singapore's “Circuit-Breaker” from April to June 2020). Participants (N = 295) completed an online survey involving a measure of SSES, the Coronavirus Impacts Questionnaire, and a food portion selection task where participants estimated the portion size they prefer to consume for a range of common foods. SSES disadvantage was associated with selection of smaller average portion sizes. Yet, a significant indirect effect of coronavirus impact was observed in this relationship, such that participants experiencing greater SSES disadvantage selected larger portion sizes through the effect of greater perceived impacts of COVID-19 to one's financial/material resources (controlling for one's actual level of income). These findings further support the idea that perceived deprivation and insecurity of important resources (financial, social, material) may influence intentions to consume greater amounts of energy. Consequently, systematic societal disruptions to such resources may reinforce and perpetuate potentially obesogenic eating behaviors of populations that are especially vulnerable to such shocks (i.e., people experiencing SSES disadvantage).

Distribution of iron, zinc and manganese in milling streams of common Serbian wheat cultivars: Preliminary survey

SummaryThis study investigates distribution of three micronutrients in milling streams of three common wheat cultivars to estimate nutritive value of white and brown flours. Among the analysed wheat cultivars, the majority of flour streams of NS Todorka showed a higher content of soluble micronutrients than the other two investigated wheat cultivars. It is necessary to improve bioavailability of Fe and Zn in flours since these micronutrients were mostly in insoluble form. In contrast, considering average Serbian portion sizes for bread, bread made from flour Type ‘110’ could supply almost 75% of the recommended daily intake for Mn.

Seafood Consumption and Its Contribution to Nutrients Intake among Canadians in 2004 and 2015.

Fish and seafood are excellent sources of nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin D, and selenium. The aims of this study were to examine the pattern of seafood consumption among Canadians and determine their contribution to intakes of energy and nutrients. Day-1 24-h dietary recalls data collected from a national survey, the Canadian Community Health Survey—Nutrition in 2004 and 2015, were used to estimate food and nutrient intakes among Canadians. Seafood was classified according to the Bureau of Nutritional Sciences food list. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the consumption rate and the average consumption amount of seafood by different age groups and sociodemographic characteristics. Population ratios were used to assess the contribution of seafood to the total intake of energy and nutrients. The overall consumption rate of seafood was around 17%, and the rate was similar between males and females, and slightly higher in 2015 (17.71%) compared to 2004 (16.38%). The average portion size is approximately 100 g, which translates into a ≈36 kg annual intake among the consumers and ≈6.2 kg per capita consumption. Adults (especially 30 years and above), Asians, individuals who were married, and with post-secondary education were more likely to consume seafood. Salmon, tuna, shrimp, cod, and crab were the most frequently consumed seafood in Canada, the consumption rate of which all increased from 2004 to 2015. Seafood provided up to 75% of n-3 PUFAs, 18% of Vitamin D, 19% Vitamin B12, 6% of niacin, and 4% of Vitamin B6 from all food sources. Seafood consumers had a healthier diet, as seafood consumption was related to a higher intake of key nutrients and a lower intake of total sugar and saturated fatty acids. Therefore, fish consumption should be promoted among Canadians.

A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of a Home-Delivered Food Box on Children’s Diet Quality in the Chickasaw Nation Packed Promise Project

BackgroundPoor diet quality among children can lead to poor health, development, and academic achievement. Child nutrition assistance programs aim to improve diet quality among children. ObjectiveThis study tested the impact of the Packed Promise intervention on diet quality among low-income children in Chickasaw Nation territory. DesignThis study was a cluster randomized controlled trial of 40 school districts and 4,750 eligible, consented households within treatment and control districts. Participants/settingHousehold data were collected at baseline (n = 2,859) and follow-up (n = 2,852) in 12 rural Oklahoma counties. InterventionPacked Promise treatment households chose from 5 types of home-delivered food boxes that contained nutritious foods ($38 food value) and a $15 check for purchasing fruits and vegetables. Main outcome measuresKey outcomes included children’s daily consumed amounts of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and added sugars collected by a dietary screener questionnaire. Other outcomes included food shopping frequency, type of grocery store used, distance traveled from home to grocery stores, and the number of weekly family dinners. All outcomes in this article are secondary to the study’s primary outcome—food insecurity among children. Statistical analyses performedDifferences between the treatment and control groups were estimated by a regression model controlling for baseline characteristics and population-based average portion sizes. ResultsChildren’s mean daily consumption of fruits and vegetables combined was about 2.35-cup equivalents in the treatment group and 2.25-cup equivalents in the control group (P < 0.001). Mean consumption of whole grains was 0.73-ounce equivalents in the treatment group compared with 0.67-ounce equivalents in the control group (P < 0.001). Other outcomes were not statistically significant. ConclusionPacked Promise led to significant but small improvements in children’s daily consumption of fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Several factors, including household participation levels in Packed Promise, may have moderated the size of impacts. Funding/SupportThis article is published as part of a supplement supported by the US Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service.

Energy and protein intake of older residents in private nursing homes in Finland

AbstractIntroduction:Malnutrition, low body mass index (BMI), and nutritional problems are common among nursing home residents. Quality of care including nutrition in long term care has been criticised lately. Objective was to study nutrition of older residents in private nursing homes in Finland for preparation of the upcoming intervention study.Methods:Descriptive, cross-sectional study. Nutritional value of the menu used in nursing homes was evaluated. Food service personal and nurses had instructions to modify offered food suitable to different needs of residents. The residents’ food intake for one day was assessed with food records and their energy and protein intakes were calculated. Nurses filled the food records and they were advised to include all kind of eaters. Information was also gathered about residents’ weight, BMI, texture of the diet (normal, soft, mashed and smooth mashed) and their need for help in eating.Results:Residents, n = 161, 57% female, mean age 81.0 y (SD ± 11.1) in 70 different nursing homes took part to the study. Their mean BMI was 24.6. (SD ± 5.0), ranging from 15.0 to 45.0. The residents had five meals: breakfast, lunch, coffee, dinner and evening snack. Of the residents 68.3% had normal, 9.3% soft, 5.0% mashed and 14.3% smooth smashed texture in their food. Using average portion size it was possible to receive enough energy and protein daily. Residents’ mean intake of energy was 1723 kcal (SD ± 506), ranging from 329 kcal to 3167 kcal per day, mean intake of protein was 69 g (SD ± 24), ranging from 14 g to 141 g per day. When protein intake was calculated by g/kg BW/day, the mean intake was 1.0 g (SD ± 0.34), ranging from 0.2 to 2 g/kg BW/day. Female residents had lower energy intake (1557 kcal, SD ± 486) than male (1888 kcal, SD ± 450), p &lt; 0.001 and protein intake (F 62 g, SD ± 22)/(M 72 g, SD ± 24), p &lt; 0.001 but not when counting g/kg BW/day.Discussion:Nutritional value of the menu in average met the recommendations for older people's nutrition. Although the mean intakes of energy and protein were adequate there was a great variation in intakes and a part of the residents received so little energy and protein that it would evidently lead to malnutrition. Taking account the wide range of residents’ BMI, energy and protein intake education of the personnel in personalized nutrition is needed.

Avaliação da percepção do tamanho de porções de alimentos proteicos

Introdução: A avaliação quantitativa do consumo de proteínas utilizando instrumentos como o recordatório de 24 horas e registro alimentar pode ser subestimada ou superestimada devido às falhas na estimativa do tamanho das porções de alimentos proteicos. Objetivo: Avaliar a percepção do tamanho das porções de alimentos proteicos. Materiais e Métodos: A amostra foi composta por 50 universitários que estimaram o tamanho das porções dos seguintes alimentos proteicos: bife bovino grelhado, carne bovina cozida em pedaços, carne bovina moída refogada, filé de peito de frango grelhado e frango cozido em cubos. Os alimentos foram dispostos em cabines individuais. Em cada cabine foi colocada uma porção média (100 g) do alimento em um prato raso. Resultados: O percentual de sujeitos que indicaram o tamanho exato das porções (médio) variou de 52,0 a 66,0%. A estimativa do tamanho médio das porções em gramas foi superestimada para todos os alimentos, especialmente para o bife bovino (174,5 g). Conclusão: Os resultados mostraram que maioria dos sujeitos estimou corretamente o tamanho das porções de alimentos proteicos categorizadas em pequena, media e grande, mas o percentual de sujeitos que estimou erroneamente é expressivo e pode afetar a qualidade dos dados sobre consumo de proteínas.

How full is your glass? Portion sizes of wine, fortified wine and straight spirits at home in the Netherlands.

Alcohol consumption may be wrongly estimated because of inaccurate information on actual portion sizes. We compared portion sizes of wine, fortified wine and straight spirits poured at home with the Dutch standard drink sizes. Participants measured portion sizes of wine, fortified wine and straight spirits at home up to a maximum of three times and reported these via an online survey. Average portion sizes (in millilitres) were compared with the Dutch standard drink sizes. Portion sizes were compared between subgroups of gender, age, BMI and level of education, and for different glass types. Wageningen and surroundings, the Netherlands.ParticipantsAdults (N 201) living in the Netherlands and consuming wine and/or straight spirits at home at least once per week. Participants poured on average 129·4 ml white wine and 131·7 ml red wine, which is significantly more than the standard of 100 ml. For fortified wine, the average poured amount was 94·0 ml, significantly more than the standard of 50 ml; also for straight spirits the poured amount was significantly more than the standard (47·0 v. 35 ml). Participants' portion sizes of wine, fortified wine and straight spirits poured at home were on average larger than the Dutch standard drink sizes. This suggests that at-home alcohol consumption in the Netherlands is underestimated.

Maternal Fatty Fish Intake Prior to and during Pregnancy and Risks of Adverse Birth Outcomes: Findings from a British Cohort.

Fish is an important source of the essential fatty acids contributing to foetal growth and development, but the evidence linking maternal fatty fish consumption with birth outcomes is inconsistent. In the UK, pregnant women are recommended to consume no more than two 140 g portions of fatty fish per week. This study aimed to investigate the association between fatty fish consumption before and during pregnancy with preterm birth and size at birth in a prospective birth cohort. Dietary intake data were acquired from a cohort of 1208 pregnant women in Leeds, UK (CARE Study) to assess preconception and trimester-specific fatty fish consumption using questionnaires. Multiple 24-h recalls during pregnancy were used to estimate an average fatty fish portion size. Intake was classified as ≤2, >2 portions/week and no fish categories. Following the exclusion of women taking cod liver oil and/or omega-3 supplements, the associations between fatty fish intake with size at birth and preterm delivery (<37 weeks gestation) were examined in multivariable regression models adjusting for confounders including salivary cotinine as a biomarker of smoking status.. The proportion of women reporting any fatty fish intake decreased throughout pregnancy, with the lowest proportion observed in trimester 3 (43%). Mean intakes amongst consumers were considerably lower than that recommended, with the lowest intake amongst consumers observed in the 1st trimester (106 g/week, 95% CI: 99, 113). This was partly due to small portion sizes when consumed, with the mean portion size of fatty fish being 101 g. After adjusting for confounders, no association was observed between fatty fish intake before or during pregnancy with size at birth and preterm delivery.

Current and potential role of grain legumes on protein and micronutrient adequacy of the diet of rural Ghanaian infants and young children: using linear programming

BackgroundGrain legumes are appreciated for their contribution to dietary protein and micronutrient intake in addition to their benefits in providing income and replenishing soil fertility. They offer potential benefits in developing countries where future food demand is increasing and both undernutrition and overweight co-exist. We studied the current and potential role of grain legumes on protein, both quantity and quality, and micronutrient adequacy in the diet of rural Ghanaian infants and young children.MethodsEnergy and nutrient (including amino acids) intakes of breastfed children of 6-8 months (n=97), 9-11 months (n=97), 12-23 months (n=114), and non-breastfed children of 12-23 months (n=29) from Karaga district in Northern Ghana were assessed using a repeated quantitative multi-pass 24-hour recall method. Food-based dietary guidelines that cover nutrient adequacy within the constraints of local current dietary patterns were designed using the linear programming software Optifood (version 4.0.9, Optifood©). Optifood was also used to evaluate whether additional legumes would further improve nutrient adequacy.ResultsWe found that 60% of the children currently consumed legumes with an average portion size of 20 g per day (cooked) contributing more than 10% of their total protein, folate, iron and niacin intake. The final sets of food-based recommendations included legumes and provided adequate protein and essential amino acids but insufficient calcium, iron, niacin and/or zinc among breastfed children and insufficient calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B12 and vitamin A among non-breastfed children. The sets of food-based recommendations combined with extra legumes on top of the current dietary pattern improved adequacy of calcium, iron, niacin and zinc but only reached sufficient amounts for calcium among breastfed children of 6-8 months old.ConclusionsAlthough legumes are often said to be the ‘meat of the poor’ and current grain legume consumption among rural children contribute to protein intake, the main nutritional benefit of increased legume consumption is improvement of micronutrient adequacy. Besides food-based recommendations, other interventions are needed such as food-based approaches and/or fortification or supplementation strategies to improve micronutrient adequacy of infants and young children in rural Ghana.Trial registrationNoguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research Institutional Review Board (NMIMR-IRB CPN 087/13-14).

Consumption practices, preferences and barriers of nuts intake amongst university of Jordan students

Summary Background Frequency of nuts consumption has shown positive results, as preventive practices, on chronic diseases – such results were reviewed by recent epidemiological studies. There was also the emphasis on the intake pattern of nuts consumption with respect to encourage eating them. The objective of this study is to quantify and assess nuts intake, the average portion size against the percentage of consumers, mean grams eaten amongst subjects, and reporting the intake of nuts consumed as whole (raw, fried and roasted) or derived hidden sources. Finally, this work also aims to identify the predictors (attitudes, preferences and barriers) of nuts consumption. Data was obtained from a questionnaire on dietary nuts intake collected from 200 healthy adult students in the University of Jordan. The five nuts types under test were: cashew, almond, pine, pistachio and peanut. In general, the consumption of total nuts was lower than expected. Gender, BMI (body mass index), smoking and taking supplements, all have had a significant impact on the consumption of particular types of nuts (p value

The contribution of dark-green leafy vegetables to total micronutrient intake of two- to five-year-old children in a rural setting

This study determined the contribution of dark-green leafy vegetables (DGLV) to total micronutrient intake of two- to fiveyear- old children residing in two neighbouring rural villages in KwaZulu-Natal where production and consumption of these vegetables were promoted. A repeated cross-sectional study that included five repeated 24 h dietary recalls per study period was done during February (n=79), May (n=74), August (n=75) and November (n=78) of 2005 by interviewing the caregivers. Consumption of spinach (mostly Swiss chard) and imifino (a collective term for various dark-green leaves) complemented each other, with imifino being consumed mostly during the first and last quarter of the year, and spinach (mostly Swiss chard) during the 3rd quarter. The proportion of children who consumed DGLV during the 5 d recall period ranged from 36% (May survey) to 86% (February survey), and the average number of times that children consumed it ranged from 1.4 (May survey) to 2.2 (February survey). The average portion size consumed was approximately ½ cup (87 ± 56 g for spinach; 87 ± 38 g for imifino). For children consuming DGLV, these vegetables contributed significantly to dietary intake of calcium (21 to 39% of total intake), iron (19 to 39%), vitamin A (42 to 68%) and riboflavin (9 to 22%).In conclusion, DGLV made a significant contribution towards total nutrient intake of the children for several of the micronutrients. This contribution can potentially be increased should these vegetables be consumed more frequently and by a larger proportion of the children.Keywords: dark-green leafy vegetables, dietary intake, micronutrients, children, rural, South Africa

Structural Validation of a French Food Frequency Questionnaire of 94 Items

Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) are used to estimate the usual food and nutrient intakes over a period of time. Such estimates can suffer from measurement errors, either due to bias induced by respondent's answers or to errors induced by the structure of the questionnaire (e.g., using a limited number of food items and an aggregated food database with average portion sizes). The "structural validation" presented in this study aims to isolate and quantify the impact of the inherent structure of a FFQ on the estimation of food and nutrient intakes, independently of respondent's perception of the questionnaire. A semi-quantitative FFQ (n = 94 items, including 50 items with questions on portion sizes) and an associated aggregated food composition database (named the item-composition database) were developed, based on the self-reported weekly dietary records of 1918 adults (18-79 years-old) in the French Individual and National Dietary Survey 2 (INCA2), and the French CIQUAL 2013 food-composition database of all the foods (n = 1342 foods) declared as consumed in the population. Reference intakes of foods ("REF_FOOD") and nutrients ("REF_NUT") were calculated for each adult using the food-composition database and the amounts of foods self-reported in his/her dietary record. Then, answers to the FFQ were simulated for each adult based on his/her self-reported dietary record. "FFQ_FOOD" and "FFQ_NUT" intakes were estimated using the simulated answers and the item-composition database. Measurement errors (in %), spearman correlations and cross-classification were used to compare "REF_FOOD" with "FFQ_FOOD" and "REF_NUT" with "FFQ_NUT". Compared to "REF_NUT," "FFQ_NUT" total quantity and total energy intake were underestimated on average by 198 g/day and 666 kJ/day, respectively. "FFQ_FOOD" intakes were well estimated for starches, underestimated for most of the subgroups, and overestimated for some subgroups, in particular vegetables. Underestimation were mainly due to the use of portion sizes, leading to an underestimation of most of nutrients, except free sugars which were overestimated. The "structural validation" by simulating answers to a FFQ based on a reference dietary survey is innovative and pragmatic and allows quantifying the error induced by the simplification of the method of collection.

Analysis of PFAAs in American alligators part 2: Potential dietary exposure of South Carolina hunters from recreationally harvested alligator meat

Exposure to perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) has been linked to many harmful health effects including reproductive disorders, developmental delays, and altered liver and kidney function. Most human exposure to environmental contaminants, including PFAAs, occurs through consumption of contaminated food or drinking water. This study uses PFAA data from meat samples collected from recreationally harvested American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in South Carolina to assess potential dietary exposure of hunters and their families to PFAAs. Consumption patterns were investigated using intercept surveys of 23 hunters at a wild game meat processor. An exposure scenario using the average consumption frequency, portion size, and median perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) concentration in alligator meat from all hunt units found the daily dietary exposure to be 2.11ng/kg body weight per day for an adult human. Dietary PFOS exposure scenarios based on location of harvest suggested the highest daily exposure occurs with alligator meat from the Middle Coastal hunt unit in South Carolina. Although no samples were found to exceed the recommended threshold for no consumption of PFOS found in Minnesota state guidelines, exposure to a mixture of PFAAs found in alligator meat and site-specific exposures based on harvest location should be considered in determining an appropriate guideline for vulnerable populations potentially exposed to PFAAs through consumption of wild alligator meat.

Are women anglers of childbearing age in the Great Lakes region following fish consumption guidelines?

States in the Great Lakes region of the United States issue fish consumption guidelines for women of childbearing age (WCBA) to help them minimize the health risks to themselves and their potential offspring from eating fish contaminated with chemicals. We used diary methods to study 1395 WCBA who purchased fishing licenses in the Great Lakes coastal region to determine if they were aware of the guidelines and following them. We found that two-thirds of WCBA reported at least minimal awareness of the fish consumption guidelines, and those that reported awareness were more likely to hold beliefs consistent with the messages emphasized in the guidelines. WCBA reported eating less than one meal/week of fish with most of this fish purchased at a store or restaurant. On average, they consumed just 2.4 sport-caught fish meals over the 16-week study period. The average portion size for sport-caught fish meals eaten by WCBA was similar to that assumed by states when determining the guidelines. However, one-quarter of WCBA in the overall sample exceeded the guidelines, with rates as high as 41% exceeding the guidelines in Michigan and Minnesota. Additional outreach efforts may be needed to increase compliance with fish consumption guidelines, particularly among subpopulations that exceed the guidelines more frequently.

Does food portion size differ by level of household income? A cross-sectional study using the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2008–11

BackgroundIn developed countries, disadvantaged groups have higher prevalence of obesity and its associated chronic diseases than do high income groups. This study aimed to investigate the association between the level of household income and food portion size for the top 20 most frequently consumed foods by adolescents and adults. MethodsData for this study came from the UK National Diet and Nutritional Survey (2008–11). Using a 4 day estimated food record, we calculated food portion size for 567 adolescents (11–18 years) and 992 adults (19–65 years). For each participant, average portion size for each food was calculated by dividing the total weight of the food by the frequency of consumption; then the average food portion size was calculated for each food for the whole sample. This method avoided portion sizes being skewed because of individuals who frequently consumed small or large portions. Levels of income were classified by household income per year: low (≥£24 999), middle (£25 000–49 999), and high (≥£50 000). Associations with food portion size were tested with multivariable regression models adjusting for sex and age (significance at p≥0·01). Findings205, 226, and 136 adolescents and 395, 379, and 218 adults were classified as having low, middle, and high household incomes, respectively. Adolescents from low income households consumed smaller portions of “tap water” than did those in high income households (by 52 mL, 99% CI 7–97; p<0·0001). Adolescents from middle income households consumed larger food portion sizes of “carbonated soft drinks” than did those from high income households (40 mL, 2–81; p=0·01). Adults in low income households consumed larger food portion sizes of “cheese”, “mashed potato”, and “savoury sauces, pickles” (by 9 g [2–15], 25 g [2–15], and 12 g [7–43], respectively; p<0·0001), and drank smaller portions of “tap water” (34 mL [3–71], p=0·01) than did those from high income households. No significant differences were seen in food portion sizes between adults in middle and high income households. InterpretationPortion sizes of only a few foods differed by household income; nonetheless, these foods might contribute to inequalities in healthy dietary intake in both adults and adolescents. More attention should be given to both food and drink portion sizes when planning public health nutrition interventions and policy programmes aimed at closing the socioeconomic gap in obesity and chronic disease morbidity and mortality. FundingSAA is in receipt of a scholarship from King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Cost of New Nordic Diet school meals

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conduct economic evaluation of a school meal programme based on principles of a New Nordic Diet (NND) by assessing the costs of the NND lunch, compared with packed lunch from home, and investigating potential effects of adjusting the NND principles underlying the school meals on the costs and on the rate of food waste. Design/methodology/approach – The analysis combines recipes, dietary records and food waste data from a school meal intervention with collected price data within an economic optimization framework. Findings – A New Nordic School meal programme consisting of a morning snack and a hot lunch based on fixed seasonal menu plans and with 75 per cent organic content is 37 per cent more expensive in terms of ingredient costs than corresponding packed school meals. This cost differential can be almost halved by introducing more flexible scheduling of week plans and reducing the level of organic ambition to 60 per cent. Reducing portion sizes could reduce the cost differential by an extra 5 per cent, which would also reduce food waste by about 15 per cent. Originality/value – Higher costs and food waste in a restrictive ingredient sourcing school meal programme can be reduced by increased flexibility in meal scheduling, reduction in organic content and reduced average portion size.