FOOD and NUTRITION MONITORING NEWS • NUMBER 4 • AUGUST 1995 New Food Standard A9 Launched

FNM evvs

FOOD AND NUTRITION MONITORING NEWS • NUMBER 4 • AUGUST 1995 New Food Standard A9 launched

After more than 15 years of • makes mandatory the Most of all, we need to make sure deliberation the revised Standard disclosure of added vitamin and that the beneficial outcomes are A9 was launched in Canberra on mineral content for each being achieved', Dr Theophanous 8 June 1995. At the launch micronutrient which is present said. Parliamentary Secretary at equal to or greater than 10% oftheRDI; Dr Andrew Theophanous said that For more information, contact Jean the new scientifically based • permits folate fortification for Shannon, National Food Authority, on standard for adding vitamins and most cereal foods, yeast extracts, (06) 271 2233. minerals to foods will provide fruit and vegetable juices and clarity and consistency to both drinks containing fruit and Hobart sodium vegetable juices at 50% of the industry and consumers. RDI;and intake study How does it differ? • decreases from 50 to 25% of the A University of Tasmania team The new Standard A9: RDI the amount of naturally comprising hypertension occurring vitamin or mineral • permits an expanded selection researcher Dr Trevor Beard, required to be present in a food of vitamins and minerals for nutritionist Dr David Woodward, before a claim for a 'good psychologist Peter Ball and cereal-based products including source' can be made (National pasta. These are B6, folate, E, epidemiologist Professor Terry Food Authority Information magnesium and zinc in addition Dwyer is gathering data on sodium Sheet, issued 8 June 1995). to thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, intakes among randomly chosen calcium and iron at 15-50% of Hobart adults aged 18-70 years. the RDI per reference quantity, Implications for nutrition Sodium intakes will be assessed based on the range of naturally monitoring from 24-hour urinary sodium occurring vitamins and 'This standard balances consumer excretion, allowing an estimate of minerals present in those foods. choice and market demand with how many people are conforming • permits continued fortification solid scientific evidence with the RDI for sodium (40-100 of breakfast cereals with other underpinning public health and mmol sodium= 0.92-2.30 g sodium micronutrients (carotene forms safety. For those who want per day from all sources for adults). of vitamin A and vitamin C) on fortification, it is now more widely The project aims to find out what the basis of established available and, at the same time, distinguishes 'conformers' and precedent; more carefully regulated. The 'non-conformers'. The study data • permits, for the first time, the impact of the new standard will will also be used to assess the addition of vitamins and need to be carefully monitored and validity of a short instrument, minerals to cheese and cheese adjustments made when necessary. proposed by the Australian products, and textured Institute of Health and Welfare, for vegetable protein at levels monitoring community sodium found in cheddar cheese and intake. meat respectively; For more information contact David • decreases the range and amount Woodward, University ofTasmania, on of vitamins that may be added (002) 20 2675. to fruit, tomato and vegetable juices based on their natural ·ror more information about vitamin profile and content; FNM News, please contact • imposes maximum claim limits lan Lester on (06) 2441126 or on all permitted vitamins and AUS,TRAliAN NSTIT TE OF fax (06) 244 1299. minerals; HEALTH & WELFARE Making the most of the 1995 National Nutrition Survey by asking relevant questions

National and state needs recall interview and food frequency least a few key questions designed questionnaire. to assess the impact of current One of the concerns consistently nutrition policies and programs, it expressed by State and Territory How useful are brief will be possible in future to make representatives, both during the questions? .. valid comparisons between the planning process for the National With the help of detailed data that results from national surveys and Nutrition Survey and in the course will become available from the surveys carried out in different of the Institute's consultations National Nutrition Survey, and parts of Australia. about monitoring needs, was that from the National Health Survey, it If many different versions of the national surveys do not meet State will be possible to determine the and local needs for information. same basic questions are used, as is extent to which the responses to currently the case, comparisons of Whilst this is true it does not mean brief questions provide valid that the data from national surveys survey data, both between areas indicators of some key aspects of and over time, at best will be cannot be used in a way which is food and nutrient intake in different relevant to these needs. difficult to interpret and at worst population sub-groups. misleading. In addition it is usually The resources devoted to national The questions reproduced in this not possible to interpret the surveys usually enable more, and newsletter, which represent only responses to 'different' questions in sometimes more detailed, some of those included in the terms of more specific data on food information to be collected than National Nutrition Survey, were and nutrient intake, or health may be possible at State or regional developed after extensive status. level. The basic problem is that it is consultation. Most of the questions Since the 1995 National Nutrition not practical for national survey have been used previously in other surveys, either in the same or a very Survey will enable a few brief samples to be large enough to questions to be extensively provide reliable data for small similar format, and are therefore useful for assessing changes over evaluated as possible key indicators geographic areas. One way round for food and nutrition monitoring, this problem is to ask in regional time. Others have been included for the first time to address important there is a distinct advantage in surveys at least some of the same using these questions, in preference questions that are being asked in concerns, such as food security and barriers to dietary change, about to other versions, in any surveys national surveys. This approach currently being planned. allows the sample to be selected on which there is little information. the basis of local needs, e.g. a While brief questions of this type As a first step towards promoting particular ethnic or age group, and will always have limitations, the the development and use of also to be large enough to provide responses to all the questions standard instruments for food and statistically relevant information. included in the National Nutrition nutrition monitoring, we have Survey will have the advantage of included some key questions from Aspects of nutrition which are of being able to be linked with more the 1995 National Health and particular interest in terms of specific data on food intake and National Nutrition surveys both for nutrition monitoring are those health status in the ;ame information and to make them related to evaluation of food and individuals. readily accessible to potential users. nutrition policy objectives and to national nutrition goals and targets. Towards a standard Further information about other Not all of these can be addressed by format questions and the development questions in population surveys, At the present time, there are no and rationale for the brief but topics which lend themselves to agreed instruments for collecting this approach include food security, data for the purpose of food and questions included in the 1995 food habits related to dietary nutrition monitoring in Australia. National Nutrition Survey is recommendations and barriers to As a result information is often not a,yailable from Barbara Brown, dietary change. Questions relating comparable from one survey to the Director National Nutrition . to these topics have been included next, between States, or with Survey on (06) 289 8087 or fax on in the 1995 National Nutrition mitional data. If agreement can be (06) 289 8121n1o4. Survey in addition to the 24-hour reached on a standard format for at

2 Selected questions from the 1995 National Health and National Nutrition surveys

Interviewer-administered questions Self-completed questions

Source: National Health Survey Source: National Nutrition Survey Source: National Nutrition Survey

Do you consider yourself to be- Would you like to change the What type of milk do you .!.!.!n!.!!l!Y. amount you eat of any of these consume? Acceptable weight? ...... 0 foods? Underweight? ...... 0 Note: respondent sees hand card Whole ...... 0 Overweight? ...... 0 with the choices shown as listed below Low/reduced fat ...... 0 Fruit and vegetables* ...... 0 How tall are you without shoes? Skim ...... 0 Bread and cereals ...... 0 Evaporated or Centimetres ...... ODD Food high in fal ...... 0 sweetened condensed...... 0 Feet No/None of these ...... 0 None of the above ...... Inches ...... ODD 0 * We are considering only fruit and Don't know ...... 0 Don't know ...... 0 vegetables in this example. Only those responding positively are asked further questions (see below) How much do you weigh? Kilograms ...... ODD About fruit and vegetables, would you like to eat more or less of this Stones/pounds ...... DODO group? How often is the meat you eat Pounds ...... ODD More ...... 0 trimmed of fat either before or after cooking? Don't know ...... D Less ...... 0 Never/rarely ...... What is stopping you from making 0 this change? Source: National Nutrition Survey Sometimes ...... 0 Interviewer: • do not read out response categories Usually ...... 0 Compared to the same time last • mark all applicable response categories year, has (your/..... 's) weight Don't eat meat...... 0 decreased, increased, or stayed the Cost too much ...... 0 same? Not enough time ...... 0 Increased ...... 0 Storage ...... 0 Decreased ...... 0 Availability ...... 0 Stayed the same ...... 0 Quality ...... 0 How many serves of vegetables do Don't know...... 0 Do not like ...... 0 you .!.!.!n!.!!l!Y. eat each day? Like too much ...... 0 (a 'serve' = 1/2 cup cooked vegetables Other ...... 0 or 1 cup of salad vegetables) What do you think were the reasons for this weight change? 1 serve or less ...... 0 Interviewer: (Do you/does .... ) have teeth, mouth • do not read out response categories or swallowing problems that cause 2-3 serves ...... 0 • mark all applicable response categories you to avoid certain foods? 4-5 serves ...... 0 Change in kind of food/drink Yes ...... 0 consumed ...... 0 No ...... o 6 serves or more ...... 0 Change in amount of food/drink consumed ...... Don't eat vegetables ...... 0 0 How often (do you/does .... ) add Ageing or physical growth ...... 0 salt to (your/... 's) food after it is Change in physical activity cooked? Is it never, rarely, levels ...... 0 sometimes or usually? A medical condition...... 0 Never/rarely...... 0 No special reason...... 0 Sometimes ...... 0 How many serves of fruit do you ~eat each day? Other...... 0 Usually ...... 0 (a 'serve' =1 medium piece or 1 small piece or 1 cup of diced pieces) How often is salt added to (your/.. .'s) food during cooking? 1 serve or less ...... 0 In the last 12 months, were there Is it never, rarely, sometimes or any times that you ran out of food usually? 2-3 serves ...... 0 and you couldn't afford to buy any more? Never/rarely...... 0 ''!4-5 serves ...... 0 Sometimes ...... 0 6 serves or more ...... Yes ...... 0 Usually...... 0 0 No ...... 0 Don't know ...... 0 Don't eat fruit ...... 0

3 identified gaps in information are conjunction with the Perth State news filled. MONICA Study, health data are also available on respondents. For more information contact Queensland Results will include a comparison Dorothy Mackerras or Phil Harvey, with the 1989 Perth Dietary Survey. Emergency food relief University of Queensland Nutrition 1995 Nutrition Attitudes services in Brisbane Program, on (07) 365 5400 or Survey Queensland Health on The 1993 Regional Health Survey in (07) 234 1878. A telephone survey of 1,000 urban Queensland found that 9% of and rural Western Australians was households had run out of food, conducted, focusing on the and in 6% of households someone particular dietary guidelines for had 'eaten less than they should 1993 Queensland fruit and vegetables, fat have' in the previous 12 months Regional Health SuiVey: consumption, cereals, and food security questions (see questions opposite). There was maintaining an appropriate body substantial variation across the In the last 12 months, were there weight, plus issues such as access to times that your household ran out State, with a higher proportion of of food and there wasn't money 'healthy' foods. Results are households in the densely to buy any more food? expected to be available this year. Yes ...... populated south-east reporting a 1995 W A Health Survey No ...... problem. A sample of approximately 5,600 In the last 12 months, has anyone people across Western Australia This finding was the basis for a in your household eaten less than were telephoned in a recent study. survey of emergency food relief they should because you couldn't afford enough food? The questionnaire has a semi services in Brisbane undertaken by Yes ...... quantitative food frequency Queensland University of No ...... component based on the Perth Diet Technology dietetics students. The Survey questionnaire. The W A survey excluded State Emergency Health Survey is a vehicle for Service activities. Organisations monitoring Western Australian were identified initially by Western Australia clinical health goals and targets, 'common knowledge' and then by a together with some national health Western Australian goals and goals and targets. snowball technique, with an targets in risk reduction appropriate individual from each Special reports The Health Department of Western body being interviewed. The Australia is working towards goals The Health Department of Western organisations surveyed provided a and targets in risk reduction. Australia is releasing a series of range of services; from hot meals, Nutrition is one of the areas for short reports on the food and food packs and food vouchers to development. Three surveys will nutrition system. Titles include: various forms of income support. provide information at State level Risk1actors for diet-related disease; for monitoring relevant goals and Deaths and illnesses from diet-related Food and nutrition in targets. Results from the three disease; Food production sector; Food Queensland: a collation of data surveys are expected to be available processing sector; Food retailing sector; later this year. Food services sector; and What are This report by Phil Harvey and 1994 Perth Dietary Survey Western Australians eating? The Cheryl Hutchins is aimed p~imarily A survey was conducted of 2,000 department also produces Nutrition at health professionals with an Perth residents using both a 24-hour WA: 1995-2000, a quarterly bulletin interest in nutrition, and policy recall method and,fl semi covering activities in Western planners. It includes hints on how quantitative food frequency Australia consistent with National to interpret the data to assist those questionnaire. Food and Nutrition Policy unfamiliar with the important objectives. The survey was used to calibrate the differences between data semi-quantitative food frequency For more information contact Cathy collections that appear to provide questionnaire later used for the Camp bell, Health Department of comparable information. Nutrition Attitudes Survey. As the Western Australia Nutrition Program, This book is an early step in survey was conducted in on (09) 222 2057. implementing the Queensland Food and Nutrition Strategy. Its major goal is to foster the use of the data for policy development and evaluation. Updates are planned as