Excessive free sugars consumption is associated with poor health outcomes. Thus, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limiting free sugars intake to no more than 10% of total energy intake. To evaluate current intakes of dietary sugars and monitor the adherence to the guidelines, the objective of this study was to comprehensively assess total and free sugars consumption of different age groups within the Slovenian population. The Slovenian national food consumption survey SI.Menu 2017/18 was conducted on representative samples of adolescents (10–17 years), adults (18–64 years), and the elderly (65–74 years) using two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls. The analyses were carried out on a sample of 1248 study participants. Free sugars content in food was estimated based on previously established databases. The population weighted median free sugars intake accounted for 10.1% of total energy intake (TEI) among adolescents, 6.4% among adults, and 6.5% in the elderly population. Both total and free sugars consumption in the percentage of TEI were higher among women than men, in participants with lower education, and those with higher family net income. The main sources of free sugars in adolescents were beverages, cakes, muffins, pastry, and dairy products; for adults and the elderly, the key sources of free sugars were beverages, cakes, muffins, pastry, and sugars, honey, and related products. A total of 56% of adolescents, 84% of adults, and 81% of the elderly population adhered to the WHO free sugars guidelines. Additional measures will be required to further decrease free sugars consumption among the teenage population, in which dietary patterns are still of greatest concern.

The Slovenian national food consumption survey in adolescents, adults and elderly was a part of the third Slovenian national dietary survey, named SI.Menu 2017/18, with the fieldwork taken place in 2017‐2018. The methodology of the survey followed the EFSA EU Menu guidance and specifications in the contract. Individuals were randomly selected from the Slovenian Central Register of Population following a two‐stage stratified sampling procedure. Dietary survey sample was at population level representative of gender and age classes (10‐74 years old). The participation rate to the survey was 62 %. For 1319 individuals a fully completed data were collected of which 484 were adolescents, 387 adults and 450 elderly. Data collection period was divided into four quarters (3‐monthly samples) and equal distribution of all week and weekend days in order to incorporate seasonal effects and day‐to‐day variation in food consumption was employed. Information on food consumption was collected with two non‐consecutive 24‐hour dietary recalls (using the OPEN dietary software) by interviews. This was complemented with a food propensity questionnaire. In addition to food consumption data, information concerning eating habits, consumers habits, food allergy, using food supplements, on life‐style, physical activity, socio‐demographic and socio‐economic status, and health was collected. The food consumption data was also coded according to the FoodEx2 classification and will be included in the EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database. Body mass and height were measured. In addition, body composition was also measured in adults and elderly by using impedance analyser. Data from the survey will be very valuable for national risk assessments, nutritional studies, assessment of changes in dietary patterns, and the development and evaluation of nutrition or health policies.

Incomparable and insufficiently detailed information on dietary intakes are common challenges associated with dietary assessment methods. Being a European Union country, Slovenia is expected to conduct national food consumption studies in line with harmonised EU Menu methodology. The present study aimed to describe the methodology and protocols in the Slovenian nationally representative dietary survey SI.Menu 2017/18, and to assess population dietary habits with respect to food consumption and energy and macronutrient intakes. While the study targeted various population groups, this report is focused on adults. A representative sample of participants was randomly selected from the Central Register of Population according to sex, age classes and place of residency, following a two-stage stratified sampling procedure. Information on food consumption was collected with two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls using a web-based Open Platform for Clinical Nutrition (OPEN) software. Data were complemented with a food propensity questionnaire to adjust for usual intake distribution. Altogether, 364 adults (18–64 years) and 416 elderlies (65–74 years) were included in the data analyses. Study results highlighted that observed dietary patterns notably differ from food-based dietary guidelines. Typical diets are unbalanced due to high amounts of consumed meat and meat products, foods high in sugar, fat and salt, and low intake of fruits and vegetables and milk and dairy products. Consequently, the energy proportion of carbohydrates, proteins, and to some extent, free sugars and total fats, as well as intake of dietary fibre and total water deviates from the reference values. Age and sex were significantly marked by differences in dietary intakes, with particularly unfavourable trends in adults and men. Study results call for adoption of prevention and public health intervention strategies to improve dietary patterns, taking into account population group differences. In addition, all developed protocols and tools will be useful for further data collection, supporting regular dietary monitoring systems and trend analyses.

The Slovenian national food consumption survey on children was part of the third Slovenian national dietary survey -SI.Menu 2017/18. A dietary study was especially needed for infants and toddlers, since no national food consumption data for this population group was yet available in Slovenia. The methodology of the survey followed the EFSA EU Menu Guidance and specifications in the contract. Individuals were randomly selected from the Slovenian Central Register of Population following a twostage stratified sampling procedure. Dietary survey sample was at population level representative of gender and age classes (three months to three years old). The participation rate to the survey was 67%. A fully completed data was collected for 637 participants of whom 294 were infants and 343 were toddlers. Data collection period was divided into four quarters (3-monthly samples) and equal distribution of all week and weekend days was employed. Information on food consumption was collected with two non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls (using the OPEN dietary software) by interviewers. Recall was complemented with a short food propensity questionnaire. In addition, information concerning breastfeeding, feeding practices, milk formulas, food allergies, and food supplements was collected. Food items consumed were coded according to the FoodEx2 classification. Body mass and height/length were measured. Collected data for this sensitive population group will be very valuable for national risk assessments, nutritional studies and for the development and evaluation of nutrition and health policies.

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