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An approach to the development of food-based dietary guidelines for Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Mary A. T. Flynn  and
John M. Kearney
Mary A. T. Flynn*
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street, Dublin, 8, Ireland
John M. Kearney
Affiliation:
Institute of European Food Studies, Trinity College, Dublin, 2, Ireland
*
*Corresponding author: Dr Mary A T Flynn, fax +353 1 454 2043, email [email protected]
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Abstract

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The aim of the present study was to analyse the different food and nutrient intakes of the adult Irish population from the lowest and highest quartiles of intake for total fat (%energy) dietary fibre (g/MJ) and fruit and vegetables (g/day). Data on Irish adults (n = 715) from the Irish National Nutrition Survey conducted in 1989 were used for the analyses and showed that the average diet is low in dietary fibre, with fruit and vegetables being only half the recommended level of 400 g. Comparisons of people with low or high intakes (from lowest and highest quartiles) of total fat (%energy), dietary fibre (g/MJ) and fruit and vegetables (g/day) show patterns of food intake differing in both the percentage of consumers and in the mean intakes among consumers only. This analysis provides data which may be useful as a first step towards the development of food-based dietary guidelines for Ireland. In particular, the low intake of fruit and vegetables in the adult Irish population deserves special attention.

Keywords

Dietary guidelinesFood intakesIreland
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 81 , Issue S1 , June 1999 , pp. S77 - S82
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 1999

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