Discrepancies between ecological and individual data on fruit and vegetable consumption in fifteen countries

Abstract

Although food supply statistics are commonly used in ecological studies of diet and disease, little information is available on how they compare with reported intakes of foods. The objective of the present study was to compare fruit and vegetable availability with estimates of national mean intakes derived from national food consumption surveys. Food availability statistics from the FAO were used. For each country, mean national supply, based on at least 3 years of FAO data, was calculated. National estimates of mean fruit and vegetable intakes were derived from population-based surveys from fifteen countries, gathered for the World Health Organization Global Burden of Disease Study revision for 2000. Extrapolations were made when survey data did not cover all age groups. For each country, the FAO:survey estimate ratio was calculated. This ratio ranged from 0·93 to 2·70 (median value ¼ 1·39). Although there was a tendency for FAO data to overestimate intakes (fourteen out of fifteen countries), the degree of overestimation varied greatly among the countries included in this study (5 -270 %). As food supply statistics are the only source of information on dietary patterns in most countries of the world, further information on how they reflect food intakes is needed. Obtaining detailed and valid estimates of dietary intakes in more countries around the world will be essential for such comparisons.

Fruits and vegetables consumption and associated factors among in-school adolescents in seven African countries

“…On the whole the African region falls with 105.5 kg far below the 146 kg fruits and vegetables availability per person per year recommended by WHO/FAO and that of Asia 183.4 kg and Europe 196 kg (WHO 2005). However, discrepancies between ecological and individual data on fruit and vegetable have been pointed out (Pomerleau et al 2003). The comparison of results across countries is further complicated by seasonal variability of fruits and vegetables consumption patterns (Pomerleau et al 2004) (Table 4).…”

Changing patterns of fruit and vegetable intake in countries of the former Soviet Union

“…1) (24) . However, there are known discrepancies between these data and actual consumption levels (25) . Hence, it is necessary to complement them with data from surveys.…”

Discrepancies among ecological, household, and individual data on fruits and vegetables consumption in Brazil

“…The only exception was Finland, where the FBS/FAO data appeared to slightly underestimate individual intakes (0.93). The median FAO/FBS:IDIS ratio for all the 15 countries was 1.51 (even though this value involves large variations between-country) 22 . One important difference to highlight in this previous study is 23 .…”

“…A previous study comparing FBS/FAO and IDIS data in 15 countries (in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Western Pacific), also found a tendency of national supply data to overestimate intake in fourteen of these countries 22 . The level of discrepancy between the two sources of information varied considerably among countries, both within and between regions.…”

“…However the estimates from FBS/FAO, HBS and IDIS should be seen as complementary. The three levels of data provide useful information (about national supply, availability and reported intake of food in the population) and countries should optimize the benefits of conducting all types of data collection depending on resources available 19,22 . Regarding nutrition policy, FBS/FAO and HBS are important as they indicate the sufficiency of supply in national and household levels respectively.…”