Recording of fluid, beverage and water intakes at the population level in Europe.
The European Food Safety Authority's 2010 scientific opinion on dietary reference values for total water intakes was partly based on observed intakes in population groups. Large variability was observed, and it is unlikely that these differences can be explained by differences in climate, activity level and/or culture. This suggests that there are uncertainties in the methodologies used to assess water intake from food and fluids, including all types of beverages. To determine current methods for recording and reporting total water, beverages and fluid intakes, twenty-one European countries were surveyed using an electronic questionnaire. In total, twelve countries responded and ten completed surveys were summarised. Countries reported that their survey was representative of the population in terms of age and socio-economic status. However, a variety of methods were used - that is, repeated 24-h recalls, estimated food diaries and FFQ. None of the methods were validated to assess water and fluid intakes. The methods used to record liquid foods - for example, soup and diluted drinks - were inconsistent. Clarity and consistency on definitions of categories of beverages to facilitate comparisons between countries are needed. Recommendations for a unified approach to surveying and quantifying intake of water from fluids and foods are proposed.
1School of Life and Medical Sciences,University of Hertfordshire,Hatfield AL10 9AB,UK.
Joan
J
Gandy
3Danone,91120 Palaiseau,France.
Laurent
L
Le Bellego
4Department for Nutritional Sciences,University of Vienna,1090 Vienna,Austria.
Jürgen
J
König
5The Coca-Cola Company,Brussels,Belgium.
Ana
A
Piekarz
6Centre de Recherche pour l'Étude et l'Observation des Conditions de Vie - Crédoc,75013 Paris,France.
Gabriel
G
Tavoularis
7Food Chemical Risk Analysis,Brighton BN2 1FZ,UK.
David R
DR
Tennant
D001628:Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000068598:Data Accuracy; D015930:Diet Records; D004326:Drinking; D060766:Drinking Water; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D009749:Nutrition Surveys / Q000379:methods*
D060766:Drinking Water
Beverage intake; Dietary assessment methods; EFSA European Food Safety Authority; Fluid intake; Water intake