title: A surveillance tool to assess diets according to Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A surveillance tool was developed to assess dietary intake collected by surveys in relation to Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide (CFG). The tool classifies foods in the Canadian Nutrient File (CNF) according to how closely they reflect CFG. This paper describes the validation exercise conducted to ensure that CNF foods determined to be "in line with CFG" were appropriately classified.
  
  
  METHODS
  With statistical modelling, 8,000 simulated diets (500 for each of the 16 Dietary Reference Intake [DRI] age/sex groups) were generated using commonly consumed foods classified as "in line with CFG." Criteria for assessing the energy content and nutrient distributions of the simulated diets were based on factors considered in the development of CFG, including Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) and Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median energy content of the simulated diets was at or below reference EERs. Most age/sex group distributions had macronutrient profiles that met the assessment criterion of 80% of the distribution within the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range, and almost all age/sex group distributions had a low prevalence (less than 10%) of micronutrient profiles below the Estimated Average Requirements. Overall, the findings indicate that diets consisting of foods that are commonly consumed by Canadians and that are "in line with CFG" have a low probability of energy excess and nutrient inadequacy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The classification of foods in the CNF accurately reflects CFG recommendations and can be used to assess surveillance data.
authors.affiliation: Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Lisa-Anne
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Elvidge Munene
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dumais
authors.affiliation: Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Krista
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Esslinger
authors.affiliation: Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Branch, Social Determinants and Science Integration Directorate, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jones-Mclean
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mansfield
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Marie-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Verreault
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Food Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Maya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villeneuve
authors.affiliation: Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: St-Pierre
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet / Q000145:classification* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004034:Diet Surveys; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D064167:Recommended Dietary Allowances; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients
keywords: Canada's Food Guide; dietary guidance; food classification system; nutrition surveys; surveillance