Food consumption data used in dietary exposure assessments

• 13,858 respondents
• 2 years and above
• 24-hour recall - one recall per respondent [1]
• 2nd 24-hour recall -10% of respondents
• Food frequency questionnaire for 12 years and above
• Short questions on food consumption patterns
• 13 month duration
• Multi-stage area sampling based on census districts

• 4,636 respondents
• 15 years and above
• 24-hour recall - one recall per respondent
• 2nd 24-hour recall - 15% of respondents
• Food frequency questionnaire
• Short questions on food consumption patterns
• 12 month duration
• Stratified sampling

• 3,275 respondents
• 5-14 years
• 24-hour recall - one recall per respondent
• 2nd 24-hour recall -15% of respondents
• Quantified dietary supplement consumption
• 10 month duration
• School based sampling with non-proportional samples

• 4,487 respondents 
• 2-16 years
• Two 24-hour recalls - all respondents
• Short questions on food consumption patterns
• Quantified dietary supplement consumption
• 7 month duration
• Stratified sampling with non-proportional samples

We expect the following consumption data to become available in Harvest in 2014-16:

• 4,721 respondents
• 15 years and above
• 24-hour recall - one recall per respondent
• 2nd 24-hour recall - 25% of respondents
• Short questions on dietary habits and dietary supplements 
• 12 month duration 
• Stratified sampling with non-proportional samples

• 12,153 respondents 
• 2 years and above
• 24-hour recall - one recall per respondent
• 2nd 24-hour recall - 63% of respondents
• 13 month duration
• Stratified sampling with non-proportional samples

• Approximately 3,000 respondents
• Whole population
• 24-hour recall - one recall per respondent
• Approximately 12 month duration

We need extensive quantitative data to conduct detailed dietary exposure assessments. Until recently, the 1995 Australian and 1997 New Zealand NNS were the most recent comprehensive sets of quantitative data on food consumption patterns available to FSANZ for most of the Australian and New Zealand populations, apart from the children's data that became available for exposure assessments in 2009 (2007 ANCNPAS, 2002 NZ children's NNS). Conducting dietary modelling based on these food consumption data provides the best estimate currently available of dietary exposure across our populations because they are national studies, across wide age ranges, of all foods and beverages consumed. However, by 2015 FSANZ will have incorporated new data sets for both Australia (2011-12 NNPAS) and New Zealand (2008-09 adults NNS) for use in our dietary exposure assessments.

While older NNSs may not include information about food products now available in the market, for staple foods such as breads, cereals, milk etc., the data derived from these surveys are likely to be still representative today at a broad food group level. For some product segments, NNS data from the 1990s may not be appropriate for use in a dietary exposure assessment (e.g. of bottled water). In these cases, FSANZ may modify its modelling technique (e.g. through the selection of a similar food as a surrogate) or seek additional consumption data.

Additional qualitative data on food consumption are sometimes available and these may help us interpret food consumption data and verify assessments carried out using the NNS on a case-by-case basis.

Whether or not FSANZ uses additional data in a dietary exposure or intake assessment depends on a number of factors, including the purpose of the assessment, the nature of the hazard and risk, the quantity and quality of data available, and the existence and type of the relevant health-based guidance value. We may use a variety of data sources such as:

• food frequency questionnaires
• consumer research
• published scientific research
• market share data and retail sales figures
• data supplied with applications to change the Food Standards Code or submissions associated with these applications.

Whether or not FSANZ uses additional data in a dietary exposure or intake assessment depends on a number of factors, including the purpose of the assessment, the nature of the hazard and risk, the quantity and quality of data available, and the existence and type of the relevant health-based guidance value. We may use a variety of data sources such as:

• food frequency questionnaires
• consumer research
• published scientific research
• market share data and retail sales figures
• data supplied with applications to change the Food Standards Code or submissions associated with these applications.