Estimations of daily energy and nutrient availability based on nationally representative household budget survey data. The Data Food Networking (DAFNE) project.

OBJECTIVE To describe a cost-efficient method for estimating energy and nutrient availability using household budget survey (HBS) data. DESIGN Four different approaches were tested and the results were compared with published nutrient intake data. The selected method was exemplarily applied in German and Greek data. SETTING Germany, 1998; Greece, 1998/99. MATERIAL Nationally representative HBSs. RESULTS Comparisons showed that HBS-based estimates were generally close to intake data when results were presented as contributions to daily energy intake. Daily energy and protein availabilities were similar in Germany and Greece. Differences were observed in the availability of carbohydrates (German households reported a 5 percentage points higher contribution to daily energy availability) and lipids (Greek households recorded higher values for total fat, but lower values for saturated fat). Meat, added lipids and potatoes were important energy suppliers in Germany, whereas in Greece the first three energy suppliers were added lipids, cereals and meat. In both countries, meat, cereals, milk and cheese were important protein sources and cereals, potatoes, fruits and nuts contributed more than 60% of the daily carbohydrate availability. Added lipids were the major source of fat in the daily diet of both countries, but their contribution amounted to less than one-third in Germany and two-thirds in Greece. CONCLUSIONS National HBS data can be used for monitoring and comparing nutrient availability among representative population samples of different countries. The ground is set for the development of a harmonised food composition table to be applied to HBS food data at international level.