“What’s on the Menu in Europe” (EU Menu) Pan-European food consumption survey Synergisms with health related EU activiti

1. “What’s on the Menu in Europe” (EU Menu)Pan-European food consumption surveySynergisms with health related EU activities? Liisa Valsta & Caroline Merten Data Collection and Exposure Unit

2. Data Collection and Exposure We work from farm to fork ……… …… harmful to beneficial….. …… combined into exposure DG SANCO Luxembourg 2

3. Current support DG SANCO Luxembourg 3

4. Food consumption - EUMENU Hazard Identification Hazard Characterisation Chemical or microbiological Occurrence Exposure Food Consumption Assessment Risk Characterisation DG SANCO Luxembourg 4

5. Data at individual level needed Consumption data Representative for EU Capturing regional differences Acute (at one meal) and chronic exposure Vulnerable groups Special diets Pregnant women Children High consumers Ethnic diets Big eaters “Unusual habits” DG SANCO Luxembourg DG SANCO Luxembourg

6. Food description Different types of information may be needed based on the different agents and chemical substances under evaluation. • In general: • Foods consumed must be described, as much as possible, in detail. • Composite foods and recipes must be disaggregated into their main components. • Additional information e.g. cooking method, processing etc. White breadfromwheat Tomatoes Ham, pork Cheese, Cheddar DG SANCO Luxembourg 6 6

7. What’s on the Menu in Europe? (EU Menu) Standardised, detailed consumption data at the individual level would benefit many: • Food safety risk assessors improving predictive accuracy • Food safety risk managers in making better targeted decisions, better legislation • High quality risk communication for better consumer awareness • In nutrition monitoring and public health policy development curbing life style diseases • Industry in reducing compliance costs with possibly less conservative estimates • Consumers in providing appropriate protection DG SANCO Luxembourg DG SANCO Luxembourg

8. Scientific Committee In 2005 the Scientific Committee suggested the establishment of a harmonised food consumption database in the EU January 2010 It also recommended that EFSA should contribute to the development of a European framework for the harmonisation of food consumption data in the EU and make these data publicly accessible DG SANCO Luxembourg DG SANCO Luxembourg 8

9. Food consumption surveys in Europe • Concise European Food Consumption db (2008) • data from 19 European countries • data in 15 only main food categories (29 sub-categories) • screening tool for preliminary exposure assessment • Comprehensive database adults (2008-2010) • most recent data from 20 Member States • data for food described at the most disaggregate level available • representative consumption at national level for adults • detailed individual level by 24 h recall or dietary record • Comprehensive database children • most recent data from 13 Member States • data for food described at the most disaggregate level available • representative consumption at national level for children • at detailed individual level by 24 h recall or dietary record DG SANCO Luxembourg 9

10. Some international initiatives • USA has a rolling program on dietary habits called the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) that started in the 1960s • In recognition of a critical need for information about the nutrition of Canadians, a survey was undertaken during 2004 • The China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS), an ongoing international collaboration, examines the effects of policies and programs on health and nutritional status • The annual National Nutrition Survey in Japan has played an important role by monitoring nutrition and health status of the Japanese since 1940s DG SANCO Luxembourg

11. EFSA Guidance published 2009 • Standardised methodology • Sample selection • Survey tool • Recipe calculations • Food frequency • Data validation • Data interpolation • Discussed and endorsed by the Expert group on food consumption data in mid October 2009 • EFSA Guidance published on 18.12.2009 (www.efsa.europa.eu/ EFSA Journal) DG SANCO Luxembourg DG SANCO Luxembourg

12. Collaborating organisations January 2010 DG SANCO Luxembourg 12

13. The pan-European survey plan (x= local preparatory/piloting phase in the Member States) • Countries selected in: • different geographical areas to immediately have a good coverage of consumption patterns across Europe (macro areas to be identified) • children and adults DG SANCO Luxembourg DG SANCO Luxembourg

14. In short … • Survey of 80,000 people in total • All food and beverage consumption on 2 non-consecutive days + FPQ allowing modelling of intake distributions • Anthropometric measurements (e.g. measured w&h) • In 27 Member States • Using the EPIC soft software that has been developed and tested through the EU funded projects EFCOSUM and EFCOVAL and a FPQ approach tested in the IDAMES project • Timeframe ~8-10 years including projectplanning and completion DG SANCO Luxembourg DG SANCO Luxembourg

15. Thank you Cooperation with Member States (national dietary surveys) and health related EU actions Harmonised approach DG SANCO Luxembourg DG SANCO Luxembourg