BNFCS Belgian National Food Consumption Database – Intake and Exposure Datasets

The Belgian National Food Consumption Survey (BNFCS) 2004 was the first national-level dietary survey conducted in Belgium, financed by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Public Health and Environment and conducted by the Unit of Epidemiology of the Scientific Institute of Public Health in collaboration with the National Institute of Statistics, the Department of Public Health (University of Ghent) and the Department of Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Health Promotion of the School of Public Health (Université Libre de Bruxelles).

The BNFCS 2004 survey followed the recommendations of the European Food Consumption Survey method project to facilitate the harmonisation of the methodology of collecting comparable food consumption data across Europe. Food intake information was collected using a repeated non-consecutive 24-hour recall with a self-administered food frequency questionnaire. Face-to-face interviews were carried out for additional data collection for food safety on a household level. In the 24-hour recall interviews, the types and quantities of foods and drinks consumed over the last full day by the respondents were gathered.

Two modules were used to gather the data. The first module obtained information on the demographics of all the members of the household, relationship to the reference person, age, sex, and educational level. The second module gathered data on employment, smoking behaviour, leisure time, physical activity, perceived health and prevalence of five nutrition-related diseases (diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular diseases and food allergy). Waist circumference and weight were also measured for the respondents.

Sampling for survey participants was done based on the National Register of Belgium, stratified per region, province and community. More than 3200 individuals were questioned by 64 trained dieticians that were recruited by the National Institute for Statistics (NIS). For the 24-hour recall, a computerized standardized interview programme called EPIC-soft was used. A written questionnaire was provided to be filled up by the survey participants that evaluated the exposure to fat-soluble contaminants such as PCBs and dioxins, exposure to water-soluble contaminants such as pesticides, and exposure to food preservatives and additives.