Revision of food-based dietary guidelines for Ireland, Phase 1: evaluation of Ireland's food guide

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate Ireland's food-based dietary guidelines and highlight priorities for revision. Design: Evaluation with stakeholder input. Energy and nutrient intake goals most appropriate for Ireland were determined. Advice from Ireland's food guide was translated into 4 d food intake patterns representing age and gender groups from 5 to 511 years. Nutritional content of the food patterns was compared with identified goals and appropriateness of food advice was noted. Feedback from stakeholders was obtained on portion size of foods within the Bread, Cereal and Potato group and of portion descriptors for meat and cereal foods. Setting: Government agency/community. Subjects: General population aged 51 years, dietitians/nutritionists (n 44) and 1011 consumers. Results: Goals were identified for energy, macronutrients, fibre, Fe, Ca and vitamin D. Goals not achieved by the food patterns included energy, total fat, saturated fat, fibre and vitamin D. Energy content of food portions within the Bread, Cereal and Potato group varied widely, yet advice indicated they were equivalent. Dietitians/nutritionists agreed with the majority of consumers surveyed (74 %, n 745) that larger portion sizes within the Bread, Cereal and Potato group were more meaningful. 'Palm of hand' as a descriptor for meat portions and a '200 ml disposable cup' for quantifying cereal foods were preferred. Conclusions: Revision of the guidelines requires specific guidance on energy and vitamin D intakes, and comprehensive advice on how to reduce fat and saturated fat and increase fibre intakes. Advice should use portion descriptors favoured by consumers and enlarged portion sizes for breads, cereals and potatoes that are equivalent in terms of energy.

An evaluation of portion size estimation aids: precision, ease of use and likelihood of future use

“…In essence, there is a lack of comprehensive data on consumer understanding of SS guidance (19) . In general, consumer estimations of PS, particularly of breakfast cereals (8) , tend to deviate from the suggested or recommended SS (5,(20)(21)(22)(23) . The 5-a-day message is widely recognised guidance for fruit and vegetables (24) yet consumers have expressed their uncertainty as to what equates to a SS (9) .…”

Dietary contributors to hypertension in adults reviewed

“…Functional vitamin D deficiency is an even more prominent concern, with a number of studies reporting inadequate intakes among the Irish population [64,65], and 76 % of Irish adults now demonstrating low serum levels of this vitamin on a year round basis [66]. Indeed, so endemic is this insufficiency that the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in their 2011 revision of Ireland's healthy eating guidelines, recommended that all people in Ireland should take a vitamin D supplement [67].…”

Revision of food-based dietary guidelines for Ireland, Phase 2: recommendations for healthy eating and affordability

“…There is also well-established evidence that the prevalence of obesity is higher among those from socio-economically disadvantaged groups (13,14) . To provide optimal nutrition in the context of obesity prevention, Ireland's national food guide (1993)(1994)(1995)(1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010) was recently evaluated in order to identify and prioritize the areas most in need of revision (15) . This evaluation found that food patterns based on the current food guide provided excessive energy, total and saturated fat but inadequate fibre and vitamin D intakes (15) .…”

“…Surveys in Ireland have indicated that access to affordable, good-quality, nutritious foods is a major challenge to low-income families and that social disadvantage is associated with higher fat intakes (19,20) . Following the evaluation of Ireland's food guide (1993-2010) (15) , the present paper describes the approaches used for revision of dietary guidelines in Ireland and the recommendations for healthy eating advice that were formulated as a result. In addition, the paper includes an examination of the affordability of these new recommendations.…”

“…In addition, the paper includes an examination of the affordability of these new recommendations. (21) , fibre (22,23) , Fe (24) , Ca and vitamin D (25) were set for males and females over 5 years of age as described in Phase I of this revision (15) . In addition, the UK goal of #10 % of energy from nonmilk extrinsic sugars (26) was also used.…”