PANCAKE – Pilot study for the Assessment of Nutrient intake and food Consumption Among Kids in Europe

Abstract

Introduction: At present the national food consumption data collected in Europe are heterogeneous, e.g. with respect to dietary assessment methodology. This hampers comparing results across countries. The PANCAKE project is one important component out of EFSA's many initiatives to harmonise the food consumption data collection across Europe in order to prepare a pan-European survey, the EU menu. Objectives: To develop, test, and evaluate tools and procedures for a future harmonized pan-European food consumption survey among infants, toddlers, children (up to 10 y), and breastfeeding women. Method/Design: In the first phase of the project, tools and procedures for the collection of food consumption data among the required age groups were developed and a food picture book was validated. In the second phase two pilot studies are conducted for two alternative dietary assessment methods each in about 100 participants in Belgium and Czech Republic. Finally, the tools and procedures used and the data collected will be evaluated providing recommendations for improvements and a choice in dietary assessment method for infants, toddlers and children. Results: The developed dietary assessment methods are 1. the three-(consecutive) day food diary which is checked with the parent. caretaker and data entry is done afterwards using EPIC-Soft and 2. two non-consecutive one-day food diaries followed by a completion interview with the parent.caretaker using EPIC-Soft. A questionnaire on background characteristics, a food propensity questionnaire, and validated food picture book for portion size estimation were developed. The protocols include instructions for random sampling,recruitment, administration and data handling of the food records, anthropometry, and evaluation. The pilot studies are half-way the first evaluation of results will be available during the conference. Conclusions: The proposed project is an important step towards fully harmonised food consumption data at European level among the younger age groups.