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Food consumption patterns in Italy: the INN-CA Study 1994–1996

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 55, pages 571–588 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

Objectives: The present study was aimed at surveying the Italian food consumption patterns in the 90s. It represented the second nationwide food intake survey that was carried out by the Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca per gli Alimenti e la Nutrizione (INRAN).

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Free-living households.

Subjects: Sampled subjects: 1147 households randomly selected to be representative of the four main geographical areas (North-West, North-East, Centre, South). Analysed subjects: 1978 individuals out of 2734 initially collected in 15 Collaborative Centres strategically scattered through the national territory.

Methods: A mixed 7-day based survey technique was applied in order to survey both individual and household consumption. At individual level, food intake was recorded by a self-compiled diary. At household level food data collection was by compilation of a food inventory by the dietician, a purchased/wasted foods diary and a recipes form both compiled by the person responsible for food related activities (decision of purchase, purchase, preparation of meals) in the household. All recorded data were monitored by the dieticians who visited the households participating in the study, at least three times. Household members were interviewed in order to collect socio-demographic, lifestyle and motivational information. Furthermore, field-workers performed the food coding and the input of data by an ad hoc developed software. The survey design allowed an internal quantitative check of food data. Several check steps were centrally performed

Results: The complex methodology caused the 46.8% response rate and afterwards a reduction of the analysed units (72% of the surveyed individuals). However, the analysed sample provided sufficiently reliable data for outlining the most relevant aspects of dietary patterns in Italy. In order to better interpret the results, controversial aspects are also illustrated and discussed in the text. The disparity analysis found that traditional diversities among Italian regions are still alive. In general, males eat more than females. Analysis according to the age class (children: 1–9 years old; adolescents: 10–17; adults: 18–64; elderly: >64) showed differences especially between the group of children vs all the others, but also in the two groups of young individuals vs adults and the elderly, that could represent clues of an incorrect way of eating.

Conclusions: Taking into account the different methodology, the comparison with previous results showed changes in the Italian average diet complying with an increasing attention to healthy aspects by large sectors of the population, but also opposite tendencies that should be carefully monitored.

Sponsorship: Minister delle Politiche Agricole e Forestali (Mi.P.A.F.).

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2001) 55, 571–588

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Acknowledgements

This study was financed by the Ministry of Agriculture (ex Mi.R.A.A.F. presently Mi.P.A.F.). Many thanks are due to Mrs Romana Roccaldo for the revision of the English version. The authors wish to thank the whole collaborative group listed below.

 Technical co-ordinators in Rome: P Boccaccini, D Bocci, M Capriotti, P D'Acapito, G Di Lena, A Micheli, A Pettinelli, S Roccuzzo, F Silvi. Collaborative centres: Cagliari, Genova, L'Aquila, Messina, Milano, Modena, Napoli, Palazzolo sull'Oglio, Pavia, Reggio nell'Emilia, Siena, Treviso, Trieste, Viterbo. Co-ordinators of the centres: A Albertini, A Arcoraci, N Battistini, L Carbini, F Contaldo, G Corrao, E Foppiani, M Giacchi, E Lanzola, L Lusetti, R Mattei, S Morabito, D Pellicari, A Raimondi, A Ribatto, O Sculati, MA Toscano, G Tomassi, G Turconi, M Valenti. Dietitians: R Abramo, V Beccia, M Bisogno, A Busello, S Bongiovanni, G Buganza, S Callini, E Campani, S Casi, C Colucci, P Corongiu, A Covino, F Crovetto, L Cucina, S Dester, M Di Prampero, E Ferrari, M Formigatti, K Gennai, R Gradaschi, M La Rosa, T Lantini, F Longo, P Lusin, S Manzi, M Mazzeo, A Menozzi, LP Morandi, F Oliveri, A Olivieri, G Padalino, F Pederzoli, M Peretti, MR Peri, R Pescione, L Petracca, I Porru, S Ravasio, R Rosati, S Salera, E Schiazza, L Sciaccaluga, S Severi, L Spreafico, G Taviani, S Tempesta, A Valenzin, A Veronesi, E Zannoner, P Zannoni, AM Zucca, C Zuelli.

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Author notes

  1. A Turrini: Guarantor: A Turrini.

  2. A Turrini, A Saba, D Perrone, E Cialfa and A D'Amicis: Contributors: AT designed the study in collaboration with the other researchers, projected and supervised data management at the co-ordinating centre, did the analyses and drafted the paper. AS participated in the study design, supervision of data collection and interpretation of the results. DP developed the data-entry and data-check software, in addition to participating in the database design. EC promoted the initiative of the project in addition to participating in the study design, recruitment of the collaborative group and interpretation of the results with very appreciated contributes. AD'A recruited and co-ordinated the collaborative group, in addition to participating in the study design, interpretation of the results, and all versions of the paper

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca per gli Alimenti e la Nutrizione (INRAN), Rome, Italy

    A Turrini, A Saba, E Cialfa & A D'Amicis

  2. Istituto Nazionale di Statistica (ISTAT), Rome, Italy

    D Perrone

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  1. A Turrini
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  2. A Saba
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  3. D Perrone
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  4. E Cialfa
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  5. A D'Amicis
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Correspondence to A Turrini.

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Turrini, A., Saba, A., Perrone, D. et al. Food consumption patterns in Italy: the INN-CA Study 1994–1996. Eur J Clin Nutr 55, 571–588 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejcn.1601185

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