Netherlands NFCS National Food Food Consumption Database – Intake and Exposure Datasets

Dutch National Food Consumption Survey 2012-2106 was a large cross-sectional study conducted by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) and coordinated by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). In the survey period of four years from November 2012 to January 2017, food consumption data among the general Dutch population was collected in the DNFCS 2012-2016. The survey compiled data on food consumption, the intake of macro-and micronutrients, the intake of potentially harmful substances and related trends. The survey research was designed in a manner that the food consumption of the general Dutch population gets collected on a semicontinuous basis. The survey aimed to provide a basis for monitoring food consumption to inform nutrition and food policy for facilitating a healthy lifestyle in Dutch society. 

The survey population comprised people in the Netherlands in the age range 1 to 79 years. Pregnant and lactating women were not included in the population, as well as institutionalised people. Only one person per household was permitted to participate. A total of 16 groups were drawn as stratified samples per period of four weeks, and the survey population was intended to represent 16 age categories regarding age and gender, region, degree of urbanisation, and educational level. The educational level of parents/caretakers was considered for children aged up to 18. The study population was monitored on these characteristics and sampling was adjusted on these factors if needed.  During data collection, 6,733 persons aged 1-79 were invited to participate in the study, of whom 4,313 completed the data collection. The survey consisted of 16 age and gender groups. The participants are chosen from a representative panel of consumers of the market research agency Kantar. The individuals in this study participate in all types of studies and they are not selected on the basis of dietary characteristics. During the study period of four years, they are not involved in any other types of food consumption survey. 

Dutch National Food Consumption Survey 2012-2106 was conducted by the market research company Kantar by inviting participants by an invitation letter. Parents of children (1-15 years) and adolescents (12-20) years were provided with specific brochures. The responses were collected either by post (physically) or online through the Kantar website. General and specific questionnaires were used to record the responses. Briefly, the questions covered various background and lifestyle factors such as patterns of physical activity, educational level, family situation, smoking habits, alcohol consumption and frequency of consumption of specific foods and dietary supplements. Dietary recalls were conducted twice, non-consecutively for 24 hours with an interval of four weeks. For the youngest and oldest age groups, this method is combined with diaries.