1. ¹Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA
2. ²Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland

Correspondence: Professor A Morabia, Division of Clinical Epidemiology, Geneva University Hospitals, 25 rue de Micheli-du-Crest, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. E-mail: alfredo.morabia@hcuge.ch

^*Guarantor: Professor A Morabia.

^†Contributors: AWS advised on and supervised the analyses and led the writing of the manuscript. CD performed the analyses. MSB participated in the data collection, analyses and drafting of the manuscript. MCC was the senior biostatistician and drafted and revised the manuscript. AM conceived the study and supervised the analyses and preparation of the paper.

Received 18 January 2002; Revised 5 June 2002; Accepted 17 June 2002.

Abstract

Background: In March 1996, revelations about the possible risk for humans of the 'mad cow disease' epidemic had a sudden impact on the diets of European populations.

Objective: To assess changes in meat and nutrient intakes in adults living in Geneva, Switzerland from 1993 to 2000.

Design: Independent annual cross-sectional surveys (4047 women and 4092 men total).

Main outcome measure: Dietary habits assessed and compared to baseline (January 1993–April 1996) via validated semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire.

Results: Women beef abstainers increased from 8.9 to 14.9% in late 1996 (P<0.001) and 13.3% in 1997 (P<0.05); among meat consumers, in late 1996 meat/beef intakes declined -10/-12% (both P<0.05). From 1997 to 2000 most intake levels drifted back toward those at baseline, but chicken intakes were significantly (all P<0.05) greater each year (+19% in 2000 (P<0.001). Consistent but less dramatic changes were observed among men. From late 1996 until 2000, liver abstention was significantly (all P<0.05) greater (women from 60 to 78%; men from 61 to 73% in 2000; (both P<0.001). The only nutrient intakes that decreased significantly (all P<0.05) each year from 1997 through 2000 were retinol and total vitamin A women: -22% (P<0.001); -11% (P<0.05) respectively; men: -16% (P<0.001); -10% (P<0.05) respectively, in 2000). Total vitamin A intakes exceeded the dietary reference intake (DRI) for liver eaters (women 185%, men 153%), but were below the DRI for liver abstainers (women 83%; men 66%) in 2000.

Conclusion: The decreases in beef and liver consumption since late 1996 led to the discovery of a long-term disparity in the retinol and total vitamin A intakes of liver eaters vs abstainers.

Sponsorship: This study was funded by grant no. 32-049847.96 of the Swiss National Foundation for Scientific Research.