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Trends in food availability in Switzerland, 1961–2007

Abstract

Trends in food availability in Switzerland were assessed using the Food and Agricultural Organization food balance sheets for the period 1961–2007. A relatively stable trend in the daily caloric supply was found: 3545 kcal/day in 1961 and 3465 kcal/day in 2007. Calories associated with carbohydrates decreased (slope±s.e.: −1.1±0.2 kcal/day/year), namely regarding cereals (−2.9±0.6 kcal/day/year) and fruit (−1.5±0.1 kcal/day/year), while the availability of sugars increased (1.2±0.5 kcal/day/year). In 1961, protein, fat, carbohydrates and alcohol represented 10.6, 33.5, 50.0 and 5.9% of total caloric supply, respectively; in 2007, the values were 10.8, 40.3, 43.7 and 5.2%. In 1961, palm, groundnut and sunflowerseed oil represented 3.4, 30.7 and 5.3% of total vegetable oils, respectively; in 2007, the values were 10.4, 3.7 and 31.6%. We conclude that between 1961 and 2007 total caloric availability remained relatively stable in Switzerland; the health effects of the increased and differing fat availability should be evaluated.

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Acknowledgements

The excellent secretarial support from Filomena Jacquier was greatly appreciated.

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Correspondence to P Marques-Vidal.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Contributors: FG analyzed the data and wrote most of the manuscript. FJ collected the data and created part of the figures. PMV designed the study and wrote part of the manuscript. FP revised the manuscript for important intellectual content.

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Guerra, F., Paccaud, F. & Marques-Vidal, P. Trends in food availability in Switzerland, 1961–2007. Eur J Clin Nutr 66, 273–275 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.187

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.187

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