scholarly journals Do Canadians meet Canada's Food Guide's recommendations for fruits and vegetables?

2013 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 234-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Black ◽  
Jean-Michel Billette

National dietary guidelines pertaining to the intake of fruits and vegetables (FV) were recently amended, in both Canada and the United States, to provide specific recommendations about dark green and orange vegetables and juice consumption. However, little is known about the extent to which Canadians meet the updated recommendations for FV. This study fills current gaps by applying the National Cancer Institute's methodology for assessing the distribution of usual intake of foods to examine reported FV intake using 24-h recalls from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey, cycle 2.2, a nationally representative health survey. After identifying plausible respondents, usual intake distributions were estimated after adjustment for respondents' age, sex, body mass index, frequency of FV consumption, sequence effect, weekend–weekday effect, income, and ethnicity. The majority of Canadians did not meet Health Canada's 2007 recommendations for FV intake. Only 26% of the population aged 2 years and older consumed the minimum number of daily servings recommended for their respective age–sex group. Approximately 1 in 5 Canadians consumed at least 1 daily serving of dark green vegetables, and 9% consumed 1 or more daily servings of orange vegetables or their substitutes. Juice was a substantial contributor to FV intake, particularly for children and teens who, on average, consumed 32%–41% of their daily FV servings as juice. These findings provide insight into the quantity and composition of FV intake and adherence to national dietary recommendations in Canada.

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Regan Bailey ◽  
Susan Pac ◽  
Victor Fulgoni ◽  
Kathleen Reidy

Abstract Objectives Nutrition during pregnancy is a critical dimension not only for women’s heath, but also for the offspring’s lifelong health. Very limited national data exist on the usual dietary intakes of pregnant women. The objective of this study was to estimate total usual nutrient intakes (from foods and dietary supplements) of pregnant women in the U.S. Methods Cross-sectional analysis of a nationally-representative sample of pregnant U.S. women, ages 20-40 years (n = 1,003) from NHANES 2001-2014. Total usual dietary intakes were estimated using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) method to adjust 2, 24-hour dietary recalls for within-person variation. Adherence with the Dietary Reference Intakes were used to assess the proportion at risk of inadequacy by the Estimated Average Requirement (%< EAR), assumed to be adequate by the Adequate Intake (% >AI), and at risk of excess by the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (% >UL). Results About 70% of pregnant women use a dietary supplement. Less than 5% of pregnant women have usual diets that are at risk for inadequate intakes of riboflavin (3%), niacin (1%), vitamin B12 (1%), iron (2%), phosphorus (< 0.5%), and selenium (< 0.5%). More pregnant women have usual intakes < EAR for vitamins A (15%), B6 (11%), folate (16%), C (11%), D (46%), E (43%), and minerals including copper (5%), calcium (13%), magnesium (47%) and zinc (11%). Few pregnant females have usual intakes >AI for potassium (2%) and choline (8%), whereas only 48% have vitamin K intakes >AI. The majority of pregnant women (95%) exceed the UL for sodium, while folic acid (34%), iron (28%), calcium (3%), and zinc (7%) were also of concern for intakes >UL. Conclusions Many U.S. pregnant women ( >10% < EAR or < 10% >AI) do not consume enough of key nutrients during pregnancy specifically vitamins A, C, D, E, K, B6, folate, and choline and minerals including potassium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc, while almost all are at risk of excessive consumption of sodium, and many at risk of excessive consumption of folic acid and iron. Improved dietary guidance to help pregnant women meet and not exceed dietary recommendations is warranted. Funding Sources Nestle Nutrition.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Krobath ◽  
William Masters ◽  
Megan Mueller

Abstract Objectives This study concerns how the description of foods on restaurant menus relates to their nutrient content as disclosed on company websites. We aimed to test halo effects, regarding how claims about some desirable features might be associated with the presence of other attributes. Methods We used item descriptions and nutrient data for food items (n = 92,949) at the top-selling restaurant chains (n = 92) from 2012 through 2017 in the United States, compiled by the MenuStat project. We classified items into 4 types (mains, appetizers, desserts, sides) and claims into 3 groups using 29 search terms based on consumer interests in health (e.g., “nutritious”), product sourcing (e.g., “local” or “organic”), and vegetal items (vegetarian or vegan). Nutrient data focus on 4 dietary recommendations to limit sodium (mg), trans-fat (g) and saturated fats (% of energy), and to increase fiber (g). We also report calories per item (kcal) and its share from carbohydrates, protein and total fat (%). We used multiple regression to test whether nutrient content was associated with menu claims, controlling for year and restaurant brand, the item being marked as “shareable”, on a kid's menu, or regional and limited-time offerings. Methods and hypotheses were preregistered on As-Predicted.com. Results Contrary to our prediction, nutrient content was more often aligned with U.S. dietary guidelines when their description did include claims. With 3 claim types, 4 food types and 4 recommendations we test 48 possible cases. In 25 (52%) we found alignment between claims and nutrient recommendations, e.g., main dishes with health-related claims had 2% less calories from saturated fat (P < 0.01) and 142 mg less sodium (P < 0.01). In 3 of 48 cases (7%), claims were contrary to recommendations, all of which were desserts with sourcing claims which had more sodium, more trans-fat and more saturated fat than other desserts (all P < 0.01). In 20 of 48 cases (42%) there was no significant difference between items with and without claims. Conclusions Items described as vegetarian/vegan or with sourcing and health claims had nutrient contents that were more often aligned with dietary guidelines than other items. Menu labeling that communicates meal content more directly, such as nutrient fact panels, could inform choice and build trust in restaurant meals. Funding Sources None.


2000 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 361-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise M. Brady ◽  
Christine H. Lindquist ◽  
Sara L. Herd ◽  
Michael I. Goran

Monitoring dietary intake patterns among children is important in order to explore and prevent the onset of adult health problems. The aim of the present study was to compare children's dietary intakes with national recommendations and to determine whether sex or ethnic differences were evident. This was done using a methodology that allows assessment of intake from the major components of the Food Guide Pyramid developed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA: ). The sample studied included 110 African-American and Caucasian males and females (mean age 9·9 years, BMI 20·1 kg/m2) from Birmingham, AL, USA, who were participating in a study investigating the development of obesity. Dietary data were based on three 24 h recalls and food group intake was determined using the USDA Pyramid Servicing Database. The results indicated that a high percentage of subjects failed to meet the recommended number of servings from each of the food groups. For example, only 5 % and 9 % met fruit and dietary group recommendations respectively. Consumption of foods from the Pyramid ‘tip’ (including discretionary fat and added sugar) contributed almost 50 % of the diet. African-Americans were more likely to meet requirements for the meat group, with a higher proportion of Caucasians meeting dietary recommendations. Males were more likely to meet the vegetable group guidelines although females consumed more energy per day from discretionary fat. In conclusion, these results suggest that implementation of nutrition education programmes may be important for promoting healthy nutrition among American children.


Author(s):  
KE Gordon ◽  
S Kuhle

Background: An “epidemic” of concussions has been widely reported. We explored the annual incidence of reported concussion or other brain injury, over 20 years within Canada in order to explore the magnitude of this reported epidemic. Methods: Two Canadian nationally representative health surveys have serially collected injury data associated with disability. The National Population Health Survey (NPHS) (1994-9) collected data on “concussion”, and the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) (2000-current) has collected data on “concussion or other brain injury”. Data on respondents 12 years and older reporting concussion with or without other brain injury within the past year were examined in order to produce serial incidence data. Results: Nationally representative data were available biennially from 1994/95 through 2013/14 with the exception of 2007/08 and 2011/12. The incidence of reported concussions, or concussions and other brain injury has been stable until 2005/06 when the reported annual incidence started an upward slope to levels 250% higher (p<0.001) without any apparent stabilization by 2013/14, when approximately 1 in 200 Canadians 12 years and older report concussion or other brain injury as their most significant injury associated with disability in the previous 12 months. Conclusions: There is currently a pandemic of reported brain injury in Canada.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Kantor ◽  
Biing-Hwan Lin

Abstract Objectives The objective of our study is to inform nutrition monitoring and education efforts to boost seafood consumption in the United States by describing patterns of fried fish intake, both at home (FAH) and away from home (FAFH) among the U.S. population. Methods We used 24-hr dietary recall data from the What We Eat in America (WWEIA) survey, the dietary intake component of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), combined for 2005–14. We describe mean protein-ounce equivalents for fried fish (fish sticks, fish sandwiches and patties, and battered, breaded, coated fried seafood) at home and at restaurants, fast food places, schools and other away from home places. Results Fried seafood accounted for 1 in 5 seafood meals and 30% of total seafood calories in the United States in 2005–14. Fried types accounted for twice the share of FAFH seafood meals and 40% more seafood calories as FAH seafood. Among FAFH places, fried seafood had the highest share of total seafood meals and calories at schools (68 and 65%) followed by fast food places (38 and 46%). Fried seafood was more likely to be of inferior nutrition compared to non-fried seafood. For example, fried seafood accounted for more than one third of the solid fats from seafood meals and contained the most refined grains per 100 grams (1.27 FPEs for fish sticks, patties, and nuggets and 0.66 FPEs per 100 grams for other fried fish). Conclusions Our analysis shows that fried seafood is consumed more often at FAFH places, especially schools, and is a notable source of some food components, such as solid fats and refined grains, that are discouraged by the Dietary Guidelines Healthy Eating Patterns. Nutrition educators, school meal personnel, and policymakers may use these results as they develop strategies to increase Americans’ seafood intake. Funding Sources None.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0255415
Author(s):  
Alena (Praneet) Ng ◽  
Mahsa Jessri ◽  
Mary R. L’Abbe

Background Hybrid methods of dietary patterns analysis have emerged as a unique and informative way to study diet-disease relationships in nutritional epidemiology research. Objective To identify an obesogenic dietary pattern using weighted partial least squares (wPLS) in nationally representative Canadian survey data, and to identify key foods and/or beverages associated with the defined dietary pattern. Design Data from one 24-hr dietary recall data from the cross-sectional Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition (CCHS) 2015 (n = 12,049) were used. wPLS was used to identify an obesogenic dietary pattern from 40 standardized food and beverage categories using the variables energy density, fibre density, and total fat as outcomes. The association between the derived dietary pattern and likelihood of obesity was examined using weighted multivariate logistic regression. Key dietary components highly associated with the derived pattern were identified. Results Compared to quartile one (i.e. those least adherent to an obesogenic dietary pattern), those in quartile four had 2.40-fold increased odds of being obese (OR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.91, 3.02, P-trend< 0.0001) with a monotonically increasing trend. Using a factor loading significance cut-off of ≥|0.17|, three food/beverage categories loaded positively for the derived obesogenic dietary pattern: fast food (+0.32), carbonated drinks (including energy drinks, sports drinks and vitamin water) (+0.30), and salty snacks (+0.19). Seven categories loaded negatively (i.e. in the protective direction): whole fruits (-0.40), orange vegetables (-0.32), “other” vegetables (-0.32), whole grains (-0.26), dark green vegetables (-0.22), legumes and soy (-0.18) and pasta and rice (-0.17). Conclusion This is the first study to apply weighted partial least squares to CCHS 2015 data to derive a dietary pattern associated with obesity. The results from this study pinpoint key dietary components that are associated with obesity and consumed among a nationally representative sample of Canadians adults.


HortScience ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1110b-1110
Author(s):  
Cecilia Wilkinson Enns

Using data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Nationwide, Food Consumption Survey (NFCS) conducted from April 1987 through Summer 1988, 1-day intakes of fruits and vegetables by 10, 138 individuals are described. Mean intakes and percentages of individuals using total fruits, citrus fruits and juices, apples, bananas, other fruits and mixtures mainly fruit, noncitrus juices and nectars, total vegetables, white potatoes, tomatoes, dark-green and deep-yellow vegetables, and other vegetables are presented. Fruit and vegetable consumption patterns by age and sex (18 groups), by race (black and white), by region (Northeast, Midwest, South, and West), and by income level as a percentage of poverty (under 131%, 131-300%, and over 300%) are illustrated.


Author(s):  
Zhe Xu ◽  
Scott T. McClure ◽  
Lawrence J. Appel

The 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that individuals should eat as little dietary cholesterol as possible. However, current dietary cholesterol intake and its food sources have not been well-characterized. We examined dietary cholesterol intake by age, sex, race, and food sources using 24-hour dietary recall data from a nationally representative sample of 5047 adults aged 20 years or older who participated in NHANES (2013&ndash;2014 survey cycle). We also reported trends in cholesterol intake across the past 7 NHANES surveys. Mean dietary cholesterol intake was 293 mg/day (348 mg/day for males and 242 mg/day for females) in the 2013&ndash;2014 survey cycle; 39% of adults had dietary cholesterol intake above 300 mg/day (46% for males and 28% for females). Meat, eggs, grain products, and milk were the highest four food sources of cholesterol, contributing to 96% of the total consumption. Both average cholesterol intake and food source varied by age, sex, and race (each p &lt; 0.05). Mean cholesterol intake of the overall population had been relatively constant at ~290 mg/day from 2001&ndash;2002 to 2013&ndash;2014 (p-trend = 0.98). These results should inform public health efforts in implementing dietary guidelines and tailoring dietary recommendations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (OCE2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Dolan ◽  
Sali Abouhajar ◽  
Damian O'Kelly ◽  
Elizabeth O'Sullivan ◽  
Aileen Kennedy ◽  
...  

AbstractFood Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) are dietary recommendations described in terms of amounts of foods that should be consumed. They are designed to support healthy eating through simple messaging and indicate how to achieve a nutritionally adequate diet. However, assessing compliance with FBDG targets can be difficult. The quantity of food either being consumed or prescribed and the amount of that food that constitutes a serving are needed to calculate the contribution of the food towards a food group target. The aim of this study was to define the serving weight of foods, guided by definitions from Irish FBDG, to the McCance and Widdowson Composition of Foods Integrated Dataset 2015 (CoFID). This will enable the automatic assessment of compliance to FBDG using Nutritics nutrition analysis software. Foods from CoFID were categorised into six food groups as defined by Ireland's FBDG. Quantified servings from the Irish FBDG were matched to foods. Calculation criteria were developed to establish a serving size for remaining foods within each food group. For fats and oils, as well as raw fruits and vegetables, household measurements were converted to grams, using Food Portion Sizes from the Food Standards Agency. Quantities for cooked fruits and vegetables were calculated using weight-change factors published by Bognar. For the breads, cereals and potatoes group a serving size was calculated using the midpoint for the calorie bands in this group, as defined by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. For the dairy group, a serving size was determined by calculating the quantity needed to provide 250 mg of calcium. This was in line with achieving the total daily recommended amount of calcium from the dairy group from 3 servings. For meat, fish and alternatives (MFA), serving sizes were developed using the recommended amount of protein per body weight reference value for males and females. For foods high in fat, sugar and salt, serving sizes were defined using 100kcal as the recommended amount of energy provided for snacks. Out of 3,291 foods, 1,980 were grouped into 6 food groups. Quantified servings were available for 694 foods in 3 food groups. Calculated serving sizes were developed for the remaining 1,276 foods. The quantity of each food that constitutes a serving will be integrated into Nutritics to automatically assess compliance to FBDG. This will enable Health Care and Food Industry Professionals to deliver informed advice on meeting population health targets.


Author(s):  
Gabriela Steier

Conflicts of interest permeate the governance of the federal advisory committees that issue recommendations to consumer protection agencies, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and therefore, American consumers need a federal solution to protect their health from biased recommendations. In order to promote a business-friendly food pyramid, agribusinesses and food industrialists lobby for dietary guidelines that boost their sales. The resulting guidelines cause great damage to public health, spur environmental pollution, and result in a loss of democratic freedoms. As a result, the FDA and USDA's bifurcated task of protecting both food producers and consumers, creates a conflict of interest within the agencies that often favor the food industry over consumer protection.This paper describes the problems embedded within the FDA and USDA's conflict of interest and the resulting revolving door of the heavily invested lobbyists, and finally, suggests statutory amendments to solve this problem. The proposed amendments will dispense with ineffective disclosure requirements and eliminate the possibility of waiving conflicts of interest for advisory committee members. By rebalancing the composition of the advisory committees and the scientific basis for the dietary recommendations, the proposed amendments will close the loopholes that large food industrialists currently abuse. As a result, consumer protection agencies, such as the FDA and USDA, are empowered to police the federal advisory committees issuing the dietary recommendations and prevent government officials from breaching their fiduciary duties to American consumers.


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