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

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 65, pages S48–S57 (2011)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/Objectives:

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.

Subjects/Methods:

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’.

Results:

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.

Conclusions:

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.

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Acknowledgements

The provided information is largely based on the presentations and discussions during the EFCOVAL workshop as perceived by the authors. We thank Davide Arcella of EFSA and Trudy Wijnhoven at the WHO Regional Office for Europe in Copenhagen for presenting the plans and views of their organizations with regard to pan-European food consumption surveys. In addition, all participants, discussion leaders and discussion rapporteurs of the workshop are acknowledged for their valuable input. The Community, EFCOVAL Consortium, speakers and participants at the EFCOVAL workshop are not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained in the manuscript. The Community funding under the Sixth Framework Program for the EFCOVAL Project is acknowledged (FOOD-CT-2006-022895).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands

    M C Ocké, H Brants, E Buurma-Rethans, J D van der Laan, E M Niekerk, E C Wilson- van den Hooven & E J de Boer

  2. Dietary Exposure Assessment Group, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France

    N Slimani, C Casagrande, G Nicolas & H Freisling

  3. National Institute of Public Health, Brno, Czech Republic

    M Dofkova

  4. National Research Institute on Food and Nutrition (INRAN), Rome, Italy

    C le Donne

  5. Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    A Geelen & J H de Vries

  6. Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

    I Huybrechts & W De Keyzer

  7. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Health Care Vesalius, University College Ghent, Ghent, Belgium

    W De Keyzer

  8. French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety, DSA/PASER, Maisons-Alfort, France

    L Lafay

  9. Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

    I T Lillegaard

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  1. M C Ocké
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  2. N Slimani
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  3. H Brants
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  6. G Nicolas
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  7. M Dofkova
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  8. C le Donne
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  9. H Freisling
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  10. A Geelen
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  11. I Huybrechts
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  12. W De Keyzer
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  13. J D van der Laan
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  14. L Lafay
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  15. I T Lillegaard
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  16. E M Niekerk
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  17. J H de Vries
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  18. E C Wilson- van den Hooven
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  19. E J de Boer
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Correspondence to M C Ocké.

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Ocké, M., Slimani, N., Brants, H. et al. Potential and requirements for a standardized pan-European food consumption survey using the EPIC-Soft software. Eur J Clin Nutr 65 (Suppl 1), S48–S57 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2011.87

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