The DAta Food NEtworking (DAFNE) initiative was conceived in the 1980s and aims at using data already collected in the context of household budget surveys (HBSs) for the assessment of dietary patterns across Europe.

HBSs are country-representative surveys conducted, with similar methodology, at regular time intervals by the National Statistical Offices of almost all European countries. DAFNE focuses at the designation of comparable, between European countries, categories of food and socio-demographic data, and the estimation of daily per capita food availability. With food and socio-demographic data classified into common categories, comparisons of food habits between European countries become possible.

Fifteen European countries with one or more HBS all undertaken during the period 1981–1999.

Representative population samples in 15 European countries.

DAFNE HBS data are comparable and allow a wide range of dietary analyses. Preliminary data document differences in food habits among European countries and provide insights into the socio-demographic determinants of food preferences.

The DAFNE databank, if properly expanded and exploited, could become a valuable tool for national food and nutrition policy planning across Europe and for the identification of groups at higher risk for developing nutrition-related conditions.

Irish participation in the EU-supported DAta Food NEtworking (DAFNE) project required compliance with the overall aims and objectives. The Irish Household Budget Survey (HBS) expenditure data had to be transformed into a format compatible with the collaborative effort, by converting them into quantities of foodstuffs available per person per day.

The Irish 1987 HBS expenditure data on all commodities for 7705 households in the Republic of Ireland, collected using a 14-day diary kept by all members of the household aged 15 years and over.

Following identification of 188 food items in the HBS dataset, retail prices per unit weight were sought for each food. Adjustment of prices, collected from a number of different sources, was made to those of 1987 using the Consumer Price Index. Simple models were used to estimate household food availability through application of the adjusted retail prices per unit weight to the expenditure data. The household level data were converted to food availability per person per day. An internal validation of quantities estimated using the retail prices was made using the 12 foodstuffs for which the Irish HBS collects expenses and quantities.

The comparison of quantities published by the Irish Central Statistics Office for 12 foodstuffs in the Irish 1987 Household Budget Survey with the quantities estimated using equivalent expenditure data and corresponding retail prices showed agreement, with less than a 10% margin of error for 10 of the foods.

In spite some difficulty in converting HBS food expenditure data into food availability per person per day, the DAFNE approach is potentially useful for Irish nutrition surveillance purposes and for facilitating comparisons of the Irish HBS food data with those of other European countries.

To derive estimates of age–gender specific food availability, based on data collected at household level.

Two alternative modelling approaches are described leading to linear and non-linear optimisation, respectively. The idea of penalised least squares is used for estimation of model parameters. The effect of household characteristics can be incorporated into both modelling approaches.

Household budget survey data from four European countries (Belgium, Greece, Norway and the United Kingdom), circa 1990.

To describe the methodology applied in order to render comparable, at the level of the dietary information collected, the household budget survey (HBS) and individual nutrition survey (INS) data from four European countries (Belgium, Greece, Norway and the United Kingdom).

In Belgium, data from the HBS of 1987–88 were compared with data from the Belgian Interuniversity Research on Nutrition and Health collected from 1980 to 1985. In Greece, data from the HBS undertaken in 1993–94 in the greater Athens area were compared with data collected around 1994 in the same region, in the context of the Greek segment of the European Prospective Investigation on Cancer and Nutrition study. In Norway, data from the HBS carried out in 1992, 1993 and 1994 were compared with the NORKOST study conducted in 1993–94. In the United Kingdom, data from four HBSs carried out in 1985, 1986, 1987 and 1988 were compared with the National Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British adults conducted in 1987–88.

INS-generated data were converted into ‘HBS-like’ estimates with the application of yield factors for weight changes during cooking, recipe-based calculations and edible proportion coefficients taking into account weight changes during the food preparation. The ‘HBS-like’ estimates thus obtained were compared with the original HBS values, after applying an adjustment factor for food spoiled or given to pets.

The methodological considerations overviewed in the present paper indicate that a number of issues need to be taken into account before a proper comparison of the dietary data collected through surveys implemented with varied methodologies is carried out.

To compare individualised household budget survey (HBS) data with food consumption values derived from individual nutrition surveys (INSs).

Four European countries: Belgium, 1980–85 and 1987–88; Greece, 1993–94; Norway, 1992–94; and the United Kingdom, 1985–88.

Household budget survey data were individualised with non-parametric models. Individual nutrition survey data were converted into ‘HBS-like’ estimates, with the application of recipe-based calculations and yield factors for weight changes during food preparation. To correct for over- and underreporting or recording in both surveys, quantities (in g day−1) of 14 principal food groups were expressed as fractions of total food quantity (in g day−1). For each food group, INS and HBS-derived mean values were calculated for 24 research units, jointly defined by country (four countries involved), gender (male, female) and age (younger, middle-aged and older). Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated and correlation diagrams were drawn.

The results of this preliminary analysis show that there is value in the nutritional information derived from HBSs. However, additional and more sophisticated work is required, in order to derive reliable point and interval estimates of individual food consumption based on HBS data.

To examine the changes in Portuguese household food availability from 1990 to 1995.

Using the DAta Food NEtworking (DAFNE) classification scheme for nutritional and socio-economic variables, data from the Portuguese Household Budget Surveys collected in 1989/90 and 1994/95 were analysed. The mean availability (quantity person−1 day−1) for the total population, by locality and by level of education of the household head, was computed for each of the main food and beverage groups.

Portugal, 1989 to 1995.

Although still among one of the countries with high availability of cereals, pulses, fish and seafood and olive oil, Portugal is gradually moving away from the traditional ‘Mediterranean diet’. Between 1989 and 1995, the availability of complex carbohydrates and olive oil was reduced, while the availability of protein-supplying food groups increased. Considerable disparities can be observed by locality and by the level of education of the household head. Households in urban areas and of higher socio-economic status are the main actors of the changes in ‘traditional’ food habits.

Although these findings are based on household food availability rather than consumption, they indicate the direction of the changes taking place in the Portuguese diet and can be used effectively by agriculture specialists, nutrition experts and policy makers.

To summarise the methods of data collection on foods eaten outside the home in the National Food Survey (NFS) and the new (2001) Expenditure and Food Survey (EFS).

The treatment of foods eaten outside the home in the NFS was reviewed as part of a merger process with the UK household budget Family Expenditure Survey (FES). Problem issues were identified and the way these problems are being dealt with in the EFS is indicated.

United Kingdom.

Pilot EFS results indicate improved coverage of foods eaten outside the home, in a comparable period to the NFS.

The new EFS, which represents a merger of the NFS and the FES at the level of data collection and validation, is likely to preserve the qualities of the previous surveys and represents an improvement over them.

Comparison of household and individual food consumption.

Combined household and individual food consumption survey carried out in Sweden in 1989. A random sample of 3000 subjects aged 0−74 years, the household to which the subject belonged constituted the household unit. Each household recorded all the foods it purchased over a 4-week period, except food eaten outside the home. For the selected subject, excluding children <1 year old, food intake was obtained with a simplified 7-day record. Food consumption from the two data sets was compared for the whole sample and for one-person households, respectively.

Reasonable agreement (±20%) was seen for many major foods including cereal products, milk, cheese, meat and meat products, and fish, and after correction for inedible part, fruit and vegetables. Purchases were lower for sweet bakery products, alcoholic beverages and potatoes, while the opposite was seen for oils and fats, cream and sugar. For one-person households the two data sets showed similar differences in consumption patterns between men and women. The gross differences observed can be explained by factors like home baking, eating out and recorded level of processing, e.g. as raw food including inedible part or as a prepared dish.

The results show reasonable agreement between purchased and eaten amounts for aggregated food groups but marked differences were seen for some important individual items. Household-based consumption data are useful for many purposes provided the limitations of the data are accounted for.

To provide an overview of the Household Food Consumption and Anthropometric Survey, undertaken in Poland from September to November 2000.

A sub-sample of households participating in the countrywide, representative household budget survey (HBS) was selected to participate in the Household Food Consumption and Anthropometric Survey. Four thousand two hundred (4200) individuals provided 24-hour recalls that were subsequently evaluated. Body weight and height together with the mid-arm, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Laboratory analyses of contaminants that may be present in selected individual diets will be undertaken.

Poland, 2000.

Four thousand two hundred individuals from 1362 households participating in the Polish HBS.

Preliminary analyses of height and weight, as well as energy and nutrient intakes, were undertaken in a sub-sample of 484 boys and girls aged 10–15 years. Energy intakes were generally in line with or above the Polish Recommendations.

Apart from serving as an important information source on individual food consumption and anthropometric status of the Polish population, the data collected through the Household Food Consumption and Anthropometric Survey will allow direct comparisons of food intake estimates, based on 24-hour recalls, with the results of the household budget survey. Such comparisons are expected to improve and refine interpretation of the data derived from both the individual nutrition survey and the household budget survey, and particularly to provide information on the importance of eating out, which is not covered in the Polish HBS.

To identify, quantify and depict variation of food habits in Europe, using data from the DAFNE (DAta Food NEtworking) databank.

Household budget survey data of 12 European countries, namely Belgium, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom, around 1990.

Data from the DAFNE databank are presented in simple pictorial presentations, which reveal considerable disparities in food habits. Furthermore, there appears to be nutritional variation within countries by socio-demographic groups, defined by their residence and educational level. The distribution patterns of food availability provide insights into the determinants of food preferences, as conditioned by current forces.

The factors influencing consumer choice are many and varied. Thus, in order to promote healthy eating, it is essential to identify the food habits of the target population. In this context, information derived from household budget surveys, used in the development of the DAFNE databank, could be very important.