EFSA releases up to date food consumption database, includes EU Menu project

03 May 2018 --- The European Food Safety (EFSA) has published a new release of its Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database, which for the first time includes data collected under EFSA’s EU Menu project. The updated database consists of the most recent data collected in member states covering more population groups and new food categories, such as energy drinks

The EU Menu project aims to increase the quality, detail and harmonization of data collected, covering all age groups from three months to 74 years. This makes the data easier to compare.

Since 2011, EFSA has provided financial support and guidance on data collection to 21 countries under the EU Menu umbrella. All data contained in the database are now classified according to FoodEx2, a system which provides a more detailed and precise description of foods and beverages consumed across the EU than the previous version.

Speaking to FoodIngredientsFirst, head of EFSA's exposure assessment team, Davide Arcella, describes some of the key drivers leading up to the new database release.

“EFSA aims to enhance the quality of its outputs by giving direct access to data and promoting the development of collaborative platforms in Europe and internationally, as well as fostering data re-use and innovation. Since 2005, EFSA has worked, in close cooperation with all organizations operating in the field, towards harmonizing dietary survey methodology and building of a common EU food consumption database,” he said.

“Harmonized food consumption data are the basis for improving the accuracy of EU wide exposure assessments. Improved risk assessments can assure more targeted risk management and permit more accurate risk communication resulting in increased consumer confidence.”

“Harmonized and detailed food consumption data can also assist in serving the needs of nutrition surveillance and of further studies on diet and health-related conditions causing high financial burden in Europe,” Arcella adds.

The EU Menu
The EU Menu is the latest evolution in a process initiated by EFSA’s Scientific Committee in 2005. In 2008, EFSA started collecting data on food consumption at a country level for adults in Europe for inclusion in its Concise Database.

This was followed by the EFSA Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database, which provides more extensive and detailed information for a majority of EU countries in refined food categories and covering more population groups.

Now, new food categories and products like energy drinks are also included in the database.

Arcella explains that energy drinks have been used as an example for two reasons:

The previous food classification system did not have a specific entry for this type of beverage and it was not therefore possible to identify the specific consumption events for energy drinks. All data contained in the database are now classified according to FoodEx2, a system which now provides a more detailed and precise description of foods and beverages consumed across the EU than the previous version. Energy drinks are a specific entry in FoodEx2, under the “Functional drinks” category.
Energy drinks is presented as a good example to show the needs for updated food consumption data. Consumption patterns evolve, with new products entering the market every day. Relatively old dietary surveys (e.g., before 2007) are not expected to include consumption events for new foods like energy drinks and it is therefore important to keep this type of database constantly updated. For example, data from INCA3, the French national dietary survey carried out in 2014-15 have been included in the new release of the Comprehensive Database which previously contained data from INCA2, carried out in 2007.

So what other products have been included that were previously not in the database?

“The FoodEx2 food classification system provides a more detailed and precise description of foods and beverages consumed across the EU than the previous version,” continues Arcella.

“In the previous version, we were able to differentiate 1,632 different foods whereas in FoodEx2 we have now 2,523 different food entries. This includes, for example, more fish species.”

“Also, in FoodEx2 facets can be used to add further details about different properties and aspects of foods, such as, for example, on processing (e.g., preserved with salt), packaging material (e.g., in glass), qualitative info (e.g., sugar-free), etc.”

Arcella concludes by saying that the updated database will allow EFSA to carry out more accurate exposure assessments to chemicals in the area of contaminants, food additives, nutrition, novel foods and more.

“It is expected that industry will take advantage of improved risk assessments that could ensure more targeted risk management and permit more accurate risk communication resulting in increased consumer confidence,” he concludes.

By Gaynor Selby