The purpose of this study is to examine the extent of which culture influences the food consumption process. More specifically, our research will focus on the consumption process of Swedish consumers, as well as their motivations when buying food products. The overall objective of our research is to analyse the extent of applicability the Swedish model of consumption might possibly have in a country like France with a strong food culture. To conduct our research, a qualitative method was used along with an interpretivist approach. This was in accordance with the overall aim to highlight social and cultural facts by analysing consumer behaviour. Based on the theoretical framework studied in the report, ten in-depth interviews were conducted on Swedish and French students. The findings include good insights and advice that retailers and suppliers in the food industry could use to improve the grocery shopping experience and make it a better fit to the consumers’ expectations. Some limitations could be observed in our research, mainly due to the language barrier, concerning both the research material and the interviews. The results were also influenced by the location of the study and the past experience of the respondents. Further research can be recommended to investigate the effect of food and culture on larger cities and in different locations. Doing so, the findings could give a more representative overview of the food consumption process. The study could also be expanded on different market niches with different age groups allowing comparisons from different generations. Another idea would be to target consumers with varying levels of incomes, in order to see to what extent income influences the food consumption process.

Thesis (MBA) -- Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The role of the Global Environment Monitoring System / Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment Programme (GEMS/Food) is to assess and inform governments, the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other relevant institutions, as well as the public, on levels and trends of contaminants in food, their contribution to total human exposure, and their significance with regard to public health and trade. The primary objective of this study is to generate a reference list of “most commonly” consumed food items and average intakes of these items in the diet of South Africans, using GEMS/Food specifications. The list is required to be representative of foods eaten by children and adults from all age and ethnic groups in South Africa. The list will serve as a reference for the Department of Health who will undertake analyses of (a) toxic chemicals, such as pesticides, heavy metals and environmental contaminants; (b) naturally occurring toxins; and (c) food additives in the commonly consumed food items, as required by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. A secondary objective of the study is to derive average (mean) weights of South Africans in different age groups in order for the calculation of dietary exposure of selected contaminants. Secondary data-analysis was conducted on existing dietary databases (raw data) obtained from surveys undertaken in South Africa between 1983 and 2000. The National Food Consumption Survey (NFCS) served as a framework for compiling data on children since this was a national representative survey of 1 to 9 year-old children in South Africa. However there has never been a national dietary survey on adults in South Africa. Consequently the data had to be extrapolated from existing isolated surveys on adults. The dietary intake for the groups 1 to 5 years and 6 to 9 years was calculated only from the NFCS, and was not supplemented by other databases. The substantiation for treating age 10+ as a unit (and calling it an adult group), was the finding that average consumption of adolescents (10 – 15 years) did not differ significantly from that of adults when comparing mean energy intakes and mean quantities consumed, of age groups in the studies analysed. Data were analysed in terms of the percentage of the group consuming specific food main groups / subgroups / food items and on average per capita portion size. Factor analyses were done to analyse the inter-relationships among the food consumption patterns of NFCS 6-9 year-olds in 9 provinces, urban and rural separately, and the inter-relationships among food consumption patterns of these children and other children and adults in other independent food consumption studies. Two methods of estimating adult consumption were derived. The results from Method 1 corresponded with results from the NFCS, which was over-sampled for lower socio-economic areas, whereas the results from Method 2 ignored relationships with NFCS data and were based on the ethnic proportions of the population in South Africa. A final list, validated against international data, is included, which provides the per capita consumption per food item, average amount consumed (consumers only), the 97,5th percentile of the consumption figures (consumers only), as well as the corresponding gram per kilogram body weight consumed. These figures represent food items consumed by 3% or more of the South African population, for the following age groups: 1-5 years, 6-9 years and age 10+ (adults). Also, average weights of South Africans for the corresponding age groups are provided, which is calculated similarly to the methods used to calculate dietary intake. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die rol van die “Global Environment Monitoring System / Food Contamination Monitoring and Assessment Programme”, of (GEMS/Food), is om regerings, die “Codex Alimentarius”, ander relevante instellings en die publiek, op hoogte te hou (en selfs te monitor), ten opsigte van vlakke en neigings van kontaminasie in voedsel, die omvang van blootstelling aan die mens, en die beduidendheid hiervan vir openbare gesondheid en handel. Die doel van hierdie studie is om ‘n lys van voedselitems wat meestal deur die Suid- Afrikaanse bevolking geëet word, op te stel. Die lys moet hoeveelhede wat ingeneem word reflekteer, en moet aan die GEMS/Food spesifikasies voldoen. Dit moet verteenwoordigend wees van kos wat kinders en grootmense, van alle ouderdomsgroepe en rassegroepe in Suid- Afrika eet. Hierdie lys sal as verwysing vir die Departement van Gesondheid dien, om sodoende dan die berekenings van (a) toksiese chemikalië, soos plaagbeheermiddels, swaar metale en omgewingsbesoedelingsagente; (b) toksine wat natuurlik voorkom; en (c) voedselaanvullings in kossoorte, soos voorgeskryf deur die “Codex Alimentarius Commission”, te bereken. ‘n Sekondêre doel van hierdie studie is om die gemiddelde gewig van Suid-Afrikaners vir verskillende ouderdomsgroepe te bereken, om gebruik te word vir die berekenings van blootstelling aan geselekteerde toksine en besoedelingsagente. Sekondêre data-analise is op bestaande diëetkundige databasisse (oorspronklike data), wat opnames in Suid-Afrika vir die tydperk 1983 tot 2000 verteenwoordig, uitgevoer. Die Nasionale Voedselverbruikersopname, “National Food Consumption Survey” (NFCS), dien as raamwerk om die verbruik van kinders saam te stel, want hierdie opname was ‘n nasionaalverteenwoordigende opname van kinders van die ouderdom 1-9 jaar in Suid-Afrika. Daar was egter tot nou toe nog nie ‘n nasionaal-verteenwoordigende opname van voedselverbruik vir volwassenes in Suid-Afrika nie. Gevolglik moet hierdie data vanuit geïsoleerde opnames op volwassenes onttrek word. Voedselinname van kinders van ouderdomsgroepe 1-5 jaar en 6-9 jaar is dus bereken deur van die NFCS data gebruik te maak sonder aanvulling van enige ander databasisse. Die motivering om kinders van die ouderdomsgroep 10+ te hanteer in dieselfde groep as volwassenes, was die bevinding dat gemiddelde verbruik van adolessente (10 – 15 jaar) nie beduidend verskil het van die van volwassenes nie, veral as daar na die kilojoule inname en die hoeveelheid (gemeet in gram) inname, gekyk word. Die data van die verskeie opnames is ge-analiseer in terme van die persentasie verbruikers en die per kapita inname per voedselsoort, gegroepeerd en ongegroepeerd. Verbande tussen NFCS 6-9 jaar data in die 9 provinsies, landelike en stedelike gebiede afsonderlik beskou, asook verbande tussen hierdie kinders en kinders en volwassenes in onafhanklike ander opnames is met behulp van faktorontledings vasgestel. Twee metodes waarmee die voedselinnames van volwassenes voorspel kan word, is afgelei. Die resultate van Metode 1 stem met die resultate van die NFCS ooreen, waar die aanname is dat daar in die steekproefneming meer op kinders van laer sosio-ekonomiese areas gekonsentreer is. Metode 2 se resultate is gebaseer op die etniese verspreiding van die rassegroepe in Suid-Afrika, en voedselinnames van die blankes, byvoorbeeld, word meer in ag geneem. Die finale lys van voedselsoorte, wat gevalideer is teenoor ander internasionale studies, sluit die volgende veranderlikes in: die per kapita verbruik van die items, die gemiddelde verbruik per item (deur net die verbruikers van die spesifieke item in ag te neem), die 97,5de persentiel van voedselitems wat bereken is vir die groep wat die voedselitem verbruik, en ook die gram (gebaseer op die 97,5de persentiel verbruikers) per kilogram ligaamsgewig verbruik vir hierdie items. Hierdie syfers is vir voedselitems wat deur 3% of meer van die verbruikers in Suid-Afrika geneem word, en vir die volgende ouderdomsgroepe: 1-5 jaar, 6-9 jaar vir die ouderdom 10+ . Die gemiddelde gewig van Suid-Afrikaners vir die ooreenstemmende ouderdomsgroepe is ook bereken deur van dieselfde tegnieke gebruik te maak as die waarmee die voedselinnames bereken is.

食物提供人類所需之能量及營養來源，而食物乃生長於農業用地。但因貿易、都市化、生活型態改變、人口成長及其它經濟因素，台灣人民食物消費習慣已與從前大不相同。台灣仰賴進口糧食的數量大於自產糧食數量。本研究檢視台灣人自1997 至2007年的食物消費型態，用以建立理想的糧食消費型態，再進一步推算各類糧食的理想消耗量，同時檢視自1997 至 2007年去的農業土地使用狀況。本研究發現台灣的食物消費型態未近健康，農業土地使用率偏低，且糧食自給率偏低，建議應進行消費型態之改善，以達永續發展的目的。 / Food is essential to life for several reasons: it provides energy and nutrients to support human life. Foods are grown from agricultural land. However, due to factors such as trade, urbanization, change of lifestyles, population growth and other economic factors, the food consumption pattern in Taiwan changed over time. Taiwan relied on imports rather than domestic production for many food sources. This research examines food consumption patterns in all food categories from 1987 to 2007 to establish an ideal food consumption level, and then to propose an ideal consumption quantity in each food category for both the individual level and the aggregate level. In addition, agricultural land utilization situations and policies are examined. The result shows contradictory findings. Taiwanese people were not eating healthfully during this period, the land utility rate was low, and the food self-sufficiency rate was low, also. Measures should be taken to improve the current situation.

The current study assessed the effectiveness of a training package, delivered in the form of a manual, to teach a parent to increase the variety and amount of food consumed by her son. The participant was a 5-year-old boy with Pervasive Developmental Disorder and limited food consumption. A changing criterion design across two variables, variety of food and quantity of food, was used. Results were that the parent who used the manual, with limited assistance from the experimenter, did succeed in increasing food variety and quantity of target foods.

The first objective of this research was to identify whether Asian-Americans having higher than average levels of income and education represent an appropriate target market for four food product categories. Second, the impact of national origin membership, demographic variables, and level of acculturation on food consumption was determined. In addition, perceptions related to sensory and nutritional factors and the cultural acceptability of the products were identified and interpreted to determine if the variables differed among specific groups of Asian-American consumers.

Contexte: L'enrichissement des aliments est une stratégie efficace pour lutter contre les carences en micronutriments. Toutefois, il existe de nombreuses étapes critiques, tels que l'évaluation des besoins de la population, l'obtention de l'appui du gouvernement et de l'industrie, le choix du véhicule alimentaire, la sélection des bons micronutriments (s) et son dosage, et enfin le suivi. Objectif: Cette thèse évalue et de discute les défis de l'enrichissement des aliments au Vietnam. Méthodologie: Les méthodes suivantes ont été utilisées: une étude transversale, une enquête sur la consommation, une étude d'impact, une étude de stabilité, une étude coût-conséquences, deux revues de littérature, une étude de validation, et les leçons tirées de programmes d'enrichissement financés par GAIN. Résultats: Les carences en micronutriments chez les femmes et les enfants au Vietnam sont encore très répandues et se chevauchent souvent. Bien qu'il n'y ait pas de consensus sur le meilleur indicateur pour déterminer le statut en zinc, la prévalence du déficit en zinc semble être élevée par example. De nombreuses initiatives d'enrichissement ont montré que le soutien du gouvernement et de l'industrie est essentiel pour réussir. Le gouvernement vietnamien a reconnu la nécessité de lutter contre les carences en micronutriments. Les véhicules appropriés pour l'enrichissement des aliments au Vietnam sont les huiles végétales et le riz, ainsi que la sauce de poisson, la sauce soja, les bouillons cubes et les aliments de complément. Cependant, il y a des questions qui doivent être soigneusement étudiés, tels que le niveau de peroxyde dans l'huile, la présence d'inhibiteurs de l'absorption du fer, ou le risque de sédimentation dans les sauces. Lors de l'ajout de micronutriments aux aliments, des facteurs tels que les coûts, la qualité et la sécurité doivent être pris en considération. Enfin, l'enrichissement doit être soigneusement surveillés pour s'assurer de la qualité et de surveiller les effets sur la santé de la population. Conclusion: Avant que la fortification des aliments puisse être mise en œuvre et être efficace au Vietnam, une série de défis devront être surmontés. / Background: Food fortification is an effective strategy to combat micronutrient deficiencies. However, there are many critical steps, such as assessing the population's needs, obtaining support from the government and industries, choosing the food vehicle, selecting the right micronutrient(s) and the dosage and finally monitoring. Objective: The overall objective of this thesis is to assess and discuss the challenges of food fortification in Vietnam. Methodology: The following methods were used: a cross-sectional study, a consumption survey, an impact study, a stability study, a cost-implication study, two literature reviews, a validation study, and lessons learned from GAIN funded fortification programs. Results: Micronutrient deficiencies in women and children in Vietnam are still widespread and often overlap. Although there is no consensus on which indicator is best to use to determine zinc status, zinc deficiency prevalence seems to be high. Numerous fortification initiatives have shown that the support from the government and the industry is essential in order to be successful. The Vietnamese government has recognized the need to fight micronutrient deficiencies. Suitable food vehicles for fortification in Vietnam are vegetable oil and rice, as well as fish sauce, soy sauce, wheat flour and possibly flavoring powders and complementary foods. However, there are issues that need to be carefully studied, such as the peroxide level in the oil, the presence of absorption inhibitors in the flour, or the risk of sedimentation in sauces. When adding micronutrients to foods, factors such as costs, quality and safety need to be considered. Finally, fortification needs to be carefully monitored to assure quality and to supervise the effect on the population's health. Conclusion: Before food fortification can be implemented and be effective in Vietnam, a series of challenges will need to be overcome.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Food Service Management, Dept. of Hospitality, Tourism and PR Management)--Vaal University of Technology / Introduction. Most of the children aged between five and 15 around the world live under difficult circumstances, which lead to a high dropout rate from school before the end of the secondary level. Most of them have poor nutrition, are undernourished and are exposed to a large range of harmful, parasitic and infectious diseases (Shariff et al, (2000:265). Purpose. The purpose of this investigation was to analyze the nutritional status of primary school children in Orange Farms informal settlement in terms of their nutritional needs in order to implement a school feeding programme and assess its impact on the nutritional status of these children. Methodology. A cross-sectional baseline survey was conducted two weeks before commencing with the school feeding programme. The measurements taken during this phase were socio-demographic and health by means of a questionnaire, as well as dietary intake and food consumption patterns by means of a quantified food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour recall, weight and height measurements. The anthropometric measurements included height and weight and the biochemical measurements included serum ferritin, C-reactive protein, total protein, albumin, vitamin B 12, folate, glucose, full blood count, haemoglobin, haematocrit, red blood cell count, mean cell volume, white blood cell count, vitamins A, E and zinc. A single matched "placebo" -controlled, parallel group, clinical trial of ten months followed in a randomly selected sample of 100 participants, 50 forming part of the control group receiving a fruit and 50 forming part of the experimental group receiving com-soy blend porridge. After the 10-month period, the same measurements for the baseline survey were repeated, except for the sociodemographic and health measurements. Results. Malnutrition, including under and over nutrition, remains a major problem among primary school children globally. This was also true in both the experimental and control school groups in this study where 18.6 percent, 34.9 percent and 4.7 percent were underweight, stunted and wasted especially in the experimental group compared to 9.1 percent severe underweight, and 9.1 per cent each for severe stunting and wasting in the control group at baseline. A mainly carbohydrate based diet was consumed with limited vegetable and animal protein intakes. The socio-demographic data indicated that household food insecurity contributed to the poor dietary intake of the sample, as the majority of the caregivers were unemployed in both groups. This was further confirmed by the limited monthly household income of less than R 1000 for a relatively large family size of up to 5 members in the control group compared to 5-10 household members in the experimental group. The implementation of a school feeding programme that included a nutritious and acceptable meal in the form of enriched corn-soy blend or a fruit as part of the programme, also proved to be a relatively easy and cost-effective way to address hunger in these primary schools. Furthermore, the dietary intake levels for both groups showed statistically significant improvements for various macro- and micronutrients when compared to DRis. Conclusion Although few statistically significant differences were observed between the groups with regard to dietary intake patterns, biochemical changes and nutritional status indices, positive changes were observed in both groups, indicating that any food provision may have a positive impact on undernourished children. The results of the intervention indicated an improvement in dietary intake which could result in an improved nutritional status, specifically related to micronutrients. However, the anthropometric indices and certain biochemical parameters showed significant improvements in both groups after the intervention. School feeding programmes are a good strategy for addressing malnutrition among primary school children if monitored effectively. However, it does not impact directly on household food security. A long-term clinical intervention trial is recommended to measure the impact of a food-based approach to address specific micronutrient deficiencies prevalent among children in these age groups. / National Research Foundation

Orientador: Cátia Regina Branco da Fonseca / Resumo: A criança com a Síndrome de Down (SD) apresenta maior incidência de diversas complicações clínicas e a deficiência de zinco tem sido considerada problema de saúde pública, levando a maiores prejuízos e repercussões negativas em funções bioquímicas, imunológicas e clínicas. O quadro clínico pode variar dentro de um amplo espectro de manifestações. Não se conhece, ao certo, a magnitude desta deficiência no Brasil. A avaliação criteriosa da alimentação é importante para que possamos avaliar as necessidades nutricionais específicas e realizar uma orientação visando a alimentação mais equilibrada. O objetivo foi avaliar o estado nutricional e o consumo alimentar, e verificar se há deficiência sérica de zinco em crianças com a Síndrome de Down. Estudo aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Análise estatística realizada através do programa SPSS. Método: Estudo clínico transversal, em crianças com SD que realizam o seguimento no ambulatório de Pediatria Genética do Hospital das Clínicas de Botucatu (HCFMB). Foram realizados entrevista semiestruturada, recordatório alimentar de 24 horas (R24), avaliação nutricional (classificação segundo as curvas para SD) e dosagem de zinco sérica. Resultados: 84% dos incluídos receberam diagnóstico de eutrofia. No R24, verificou-se excesso do consumo de calorias e carboidratos, e sem deficiência no consumo de zinco. Quanto ao nível sérico do zinco, em 94,3% houve deficiência (considerado insuficiente valores abaixo de 65 μg/dL) com valor médio d... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Children with Down Syndrome (DS) presents a higher frequency of clinical complications and the Zinc deficiency has been considered a public health problem, that may cause important damage to the biochemical, immunological and clinical functions. The clinical presentation may vary in a broad spectrum of manifestations. The magnitude of this deficiency in Brazil is unknown. The careful evaluation of the diet is essential to access the specific nutritional needs and to guide the best medical conduct and orientations for a more balanced diet. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status and diet of children with DS, and research serum zinc deficiency. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committe and statistical analysis was performed with SPSS program. Method: Cross-sectional clinical study with children with DS who performed follow-up at the Genetic Pediatrics outpatient clinics of Hospital das Clínicas de Botucatu (HCFMB). It was performed a semi-structured interview, 24-hour food diary (R24), nutritional assessment (classification according to the charts for DS) and serum zinc blood test. Results: 84% of the patients were diagnosed eutrophic. In the 24-hour food diary evaluation was detected an excess of calories and carbohydrate consumption, and no deficiency in zinc consumption. Regarding the serum zinc level, 94.3% had a deficiency (considered insufficient levels below 65 ug / dL) with a mean value of 50.40 ug / dL, median of 49.24 ug / dL (dp-10.0... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

The world is facing a global climate crisis and a collective step towards a more sustainable lifestyle is of importance. Food consumption accounts for a large part of an individuals’ total emissions and as the production of meat generally emits less green-house-gases than that of plant-based alternatives, changing towards a more plant-based diet can be one step to a more sustainable lifestyle. This study outlines a field experiment at a university cafeteria where the menu order was altered by random assignment. It is tested if placing the vegetarian option at the top of the menu has a causal effect on the share of vegetarian option sold that day, i.e. if it is possible to nudge customers to choose a more sustainable option. Using ordinary least squares and a beta regression models, the results do not show a positive treatment effect on the share of vegetarian option sold but do find a significantly average negative effect of 5.5 percentage points on the share of meat option sold. This effect it translated to an average negative effect of 6 percent on the daily emissions due to food sales at the cafeteria.

Introdução: A avaliação da dieta habitual do adolescente é complexa devido às variações intra e interindividuais. Os estudos de validação e reprodutibilidade de questionários de freqüência alimentar são necessários para garantir a utilização de instrumentos capazes de mensurar a dieta habitual real. Objetivo: Desenvolver, verificar a validade e reprodutibilidade de um questionário de freqüência alimentar baseado nos grupos alimentares da pirâmide alimentar para adolescentes (QFA-PA). Materiais e métodos: Após a identificação dos alimentos a serem incluídos no QFA-PA, o método foi testado em estudo piloto. A versão final consistiu em 50 itens alimentares. O estudo foi realizado com 109 adolescentes de ambos os gêneros durante um período de quatro meses. Para verificar a validade e reprodutibilidade do QFA-PA foram aplicados quatro Recordatórios de 24h (Rec24h) e dois QFA-PA. A validade foi obtida pela comparação entre o segundo QFA-PA e à média dos Rec24h. A reprodutibilidade foi mensurada por meio da comparação dos dois QFA-PA. Resultados: O questionário desenvolvido representou 97,7% das calorias consumidas e pelo menos 90% da ingestão dos nutrientes selecionados. Foram incluídos os alimentos freqüentemente relatados ausentes no QFA e freqüentemente relatados sem maior contribuição energética. As variáveis melhor avaliadas foram os grupos do arroz, pão, massa, batata e mandioca; das carnes e de açúcares e doces. Os piores resultados foram observados para a vitamina C. Cabe ressaltar que este é o primeiro QFA desenvolvido, validado e acurado no Brasil para adolescentes que avalia o consumo alimentar baseado na pirâmide dos alimentos dos adolescentes. Conclusão: Considerando-se as análises realizadas, o QFA-PA apresentou validade satisfatória e reprodutibilidade aceitável para a maioria das variáveis. / Introduction: The assessment of habitual diet of adolescent is complex due to within and between-person variations. The studies of validity and reproducibility of food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) are needed to ensure the use of reliable and accurate instruments capable of measure usual diet. Objective: To develop, verify the validity and reproducibility of a food frequency questionnaire based on the food groups of food pyramid for adolescents (FFQ-PA). Methods: After identify the items to be included in the FFQ-PA, the method was tested in a pilot study. The final version consisted of 50 food items. The study was conducted with 109 adolescents of both genders over a period of four months. To check the validity and reproducibility of the FFQ-PA were applied four 24-hour records (Rec24h) and two FFQ-PA. The validity was obtained by comparing the second FFQ-PA and average Rec24h. The reproducibility was measured by comparing the two FFQ-PA. Results: The questionnaire represented 97,7% of the calories consumed by the population and at least 90% of the intake of selected nutrients. We included food often reported missing in the FFQ and the frequently reported without further energy contribuition. In the study of validity and reproducibility, the variables were evaluated further groups of rice, bread, pasta, potatoes and cassava, meat and sugar and sweets. The worst results were observed for vitamin C. It is noteworthy that this is the first FFQ developed, validated and accurate in Brazil for adolescents that assesses food consumption based on the adolescent food pyramid. Conclusion: Considering the analysis, the FFQ-PA showed satisfactory validity and reproducibility acceptable for most variables.