Total diet study in the Basque Country, Spain

Abstract

Since 1990, Basque Government pioneered in Spain an ongoing Total Diet Study (TDS) using the market basket approach. Monthly, 91 food items are purchased in different locations, which after preparation and cooking are combined into 16 food groups for analysis. Dietary exposures of lead, cadmium, total mercury, methylmercury, total arsenic, inorganic arsenic, iron, zinc, organochlorine pesticides, dioxins and PCBs, OTA, nitrate, nitrite, and sulfite were calculated. Most intakes were well below corresponding safety values. Average consumers showed high intakes of mercury and dioxin WHO-TEQs associated with fish consumption. Recommendations to reduce certain fish species consumption should be addressed to at-risk population groups, especially pregnant women and infants.