title: Buying less and wasting less food. Changes in household food energy purchases, energy intakes and energy density between 2007 and 2012 with and without adjustment for food waste.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Consumers in the UK responded to the rapid increases in food prices between 2007 and 2009 partly by reducing the amount of food energy bought. Household food and drink waste has also decreased since 2007. The present study explored the combined effects of reductions in food purchases and waste on estimated food energy intakes and dietary energy density.
  
  
  METHODS
  The amount of food energy purchased per adult equivalent was calculated from Kantar Worldpanel household food and drink purchase data for 2007 and 2012. Food energy intakes were estimated by adjusting purchase data for food and drink waste, using waste factors specific to the two years and scaled for household size.
  
  
  METHODS
  Scotland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Households in Scotland (n 2657 in 2007; n 2841 in 2012).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The amount of food energy purchased decreased between 2007 and 2012, from 8·6 to 8·2 MJ/adult equivalent per d (P<0·001). After accounting for the decrease in food waste, estimated food energy intake was not significantly different (7·3 and 7·2 MJ/adult equivalent per d for 2007 and 2012, respectively; P=0·186). Energy density of foods purchased increased slightly from 700 to 706 kJ/100 g (P=0·010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While consumers in Scotland reduced the amount of food energy that they purchased between 2007 and 2012, this was balanced by reductions in household food and drink waste over the same time, resulting in no significant change in net estimated energy intake of foods brought into the home.
authors.affiliation: 1Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health,University of Aberdeen,Foresterhill,Aberdeen AB25 2ZD,UK.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whybrow
authors.affiliation: 2Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland,Aberdeen,UK.
authors.forename: Graham W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Horgan
authors.affiliation: 1Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health,University of Aberdeen,Foresterhill,Aberdeen AB25 2ZD,UK.
authors.forename: Jennie I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Macdiarmid
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003258:Consumer Behavior / Q000191:economics*; D004032:Diet / Q000191:economics*; D002149:Energy Intake; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005502:Food / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012606:Scotland; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Food price rises; Food purchasing; Food waste; Recession; Socio-economic deprivation