title: Intake of seafood in the US varies by age, income, and education level but not by race-ethnicity.
abstract: Current US federal dietary guidance recommends regular consumption of seafood (fish + shellfish) to promote health; however, little is known about how well Americans meet the guideline, particularly population subgroups that may be at risk for inadequate intake. The purposes of this study were to describe the prevalence of seafood consumption and, among consumers, the amounts of seafood eaten by sex, age group, income and education level, and race-ethnicity. Data from 15,407 adults aged 19+ participating in the 2005-2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were analyzed using methods to account for sporadic intake of seafood. Over 80% of Americans reported consuming any seafood over the past 30 days, 74% reported consuming fish, and 54% reported eating shellfish. The percentages varied by socio-demographic group. Younger age and lower income and education levels were associated with lower odds of being a seafood consumer (p < 0.0001). Among those who reported eating seafood, the average amount eaten of any seafood was 158.2 ± 5.6 g/week. Among seafood consumers, women and individuals of lower age and education levels consumed less seafood. Approximately 80%-90% of seafood consumers did not meet seafood recommendations when needs were estimated by energy requirements. A great deal of work remains to move Americans toward seafood consumption at current recommended levels.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, 2420 2nd Avenue N., Grand Forks, ND, 58203, USA. lisa.jahns@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jahns
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, 2420 2nd Avenue N., Grand Forks, ND, 58203, USA. susan.raatz@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Susan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Raatz
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, 2420 2nd Avenue N., Grand Forks, ND, 58203, USA. luann.johnson@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: LuAnn K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: Centre for Exercise, Nutrition, and Health Sciences, School of Policy Studies, University of Bristol, 8 Priory Road, Bristol, BS8 1TZ, UK. sibylle.kranz@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sibylle
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kranz
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Office of National Programs, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA. jeff.silverstein@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Jeffrey T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Silverstein
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, 2420 2nd Avenue N., Grand Forks, ND, 58203, USA. matthew.picklo@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Picklo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005399:Fishes; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D017747:Seafood; D012737:Sex Factors; D012758:Shellfish; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult