Potential and requirements for a standardized pan-European food consumption survey using the EPIC-Soft software

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 65; no. S1; pp. S48 - S57
• Main Authors: OCKE, M. C, SLIMANI, N, HUYBRECHTS, I, DE KEYZER, W, VAN DER LAAN, J. D, LAFAY, L, LILLEGAARD, I. T, NIEKERK, E. M, DE VRIES, J. H, WILSON- VAN DEN HOOVEN, E. C, DE BOER, E. J, BRANTS, H, BUURMA-RETHANS, E, CASAGRANDE, C, NICOLAS, G, DOFKOVA, M, LE DONNE, C, FREISLING, H, GEELEN, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing Group 01.07.2011
• Subjects: Analysis; Biological and medical sciences; Computer programs; Data collection; Diet; Diet Records; Diet Surveys - methods; Diet Surveys - standards; Europe; Feasibility studies; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Food; Food consumption; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Neoplasms; Nutrients; Nutrition; Nutritional Sciences; Polls & surveys; Product/Service Evaluations; Prospective Studies; Software; Validation Studies as Topic; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Europe; EFCOVAL; Nutrition survey; Europe; Standardization; Metabolic diseases; nutrition surveys; European; Feeding; Need; Diet; Surveillance; Food intake; 24-h dietary recall; Software; Recall; EPIC-Soft
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2011.87

To describe the strengths, limitations and requirements of using EPIC-Soft software (the software developed to conduct 24-h dietary recalls in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study) in pan-European food consumption surveys, and to discuss potentials and barriers for a harmonized pan-European food consumption survey. The paper is based on the experiences in the 'European Food Consumption and Validation' Project, which included updating six existing and preparing one new country-specific EPIC-Soft version, applying EPIC-Soft in validation and feasibility studies, and estimating the intake of nutrients and flavoring substances. The experiences were discussed in the September 2009 workshop 'Pan-European Food Consumption Surveys--for Standardized and Comparable Transnational Data Collection'. EPIC-Soft is suitable for detailed and standardized food consumption data collection in pan-European food consumption surveys. A thorough preparation of all aspects of the food consumption survey is important for the quality and efficiency during data collection and processing. The preparation and data-handling phase of working with EPIC-Soft is labor intensive and requires trained, motivated and qualified personnel. Given the suitability of EPIC-Soft as standardized dietary assessment tool in European dietary monitoring, the proposed strategy toward a pan-European food consumption survey is to prepare well, to allow flexibility in national extensions and to start with a limited number of countries that are interested.