GEMS/food consumption cluster diets

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) has developed the GEMS/Food Consumption Cluster Diets, which provides an overview of the food consumption patterns worldwide, through 13 dietary patterns covering 183 countries. Estimates of food consumption are necessary to assess the potential exposure of populations to chemical contaminants and certain nutrient substances in food. Based on Food Balance Sheet (FBS) data collected by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), these diets are routinely used by international risk assessment bodies. The derivation of these diets is presented and the uses and limitations of the diets are discussed, including their application in total diet studies.