title: The accuracy of dietary recall of infant feeding and food allergen data.
abstract: Research investigating the association of infant dietary factors with later health outcomes often relies on maternal recall. It is unclear what the effect of recall bias is on the accuracy of the information obtained. The present study aimed to determine the extent of recall bias on the accuracy of infant feeding and food allergen data collected 10 years later.
  
  
  
  Mothers were recruited from a prospective birth cohort from the Isle of Wight. When their child was 10 years of age (2011/2012), mothers were requested to complete a retrospective infant feeding questionnaire asking the same questions as those solicited in 2001/2002.
  
  
  
  In total, 125 mothers participated. There was substantial agreement for recollection of any breastfeeding (κ = 0.79) and the duration of breastfeeding from 10 years earlier (r = 0.84). Some 94% of mothers recalled accurately that their child had received formula milk. The exact age at which formula milk was first given was reliably answered (r = 0.63). The brand of formula milk was poorly recalled. Recall of age of introduction of solid food was not reliable (r = 0.16). The age of introduction of peanuts was the only food allergen that was recalled accurately (86%).
  
  
  
  The present study highlights the importance of maternal recall bias of infant feeding practices over 10 years. Recall related to breastfeeding and formula feeding were reliable, whereas recalls related to age of introduction of solid or allergenic foods, apart from peanut, were not. Caution should be applied when interpreting studies relying on dietary recall.
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Nutrition, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: van Zyl
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.|David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maslin
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.|David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, UK.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Nutrition, Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blaauw
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences and Social Work, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK.|David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre, St Mary's Hospital, Isle of Wight, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Venter
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D004435:Eating / Q000523:psychology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D041943:Infant Formula; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens
keywords: dietary recall; food allergy; infant feeding; recall bias