The Efcoval project

Workplan summaries

In order to achieve the objectives of the EFCOVAL project, a number of work packages have been defined:

Go to workpackage descriptions: WP 1 | WP 2 | WP 3 | WP 4 | WP 5a | WP 5b | WP 6 |

To evaluate the validity of the instrument for assessing food and nutrient intake within countries in Europe, and for comparisons between these countries i.e. to collect data on foods, nutrients and biomarkers in five countries with a large variety in food pattern.
- To test the validity of the system by comparing the 24HR-data with the chosen reference methods between populations within and between countries
- Compare validity and food intake with data on food patterns and validity available from the EPIC study.
To ensure quality of the anticipated future European Food and Nutrition Surveillance System, based on repeated 24HR recalls using EPIC-SOFT i.e. to make an inventory of the errors and problems encountered in applying and validating EPIC-SOFT in different countries, in order to successfully implement the instrument in additional countries/populations and future occasions

To define/recommend a trans-European methodology for undertaking national representative dietary surveys among children, focusing on the age of 4 to 12 years. The method should:
- provide valid data of usual daily intake of food and beverages. Data must be suitable for estimating intake on the individual level, including distribution for energy, macronutrients and selected vitamins, minerals and other components
- provide data that is as far as possible in line with data from the method used for adults
- allow the response rate to be kept high and the expenses to be kept at a reasonable level
- minimize under- and over-reporting
To pilot test the recommended method in two selected EU countries. Relative validation of the recommended method in Denmark

To provide an improved statistical tool for estimating usual intake distributions from food consumption surveys if two 24h dietary recalls are the assessment instrument of the survey. Roughly, it consists of:
- developing a standardized procedure for national consumption surveys and their potential users
- improving the present estimation method, especially in the case of heterogeneous population samples and in the case of additional information concerning non-consumers
- developing a user-friendly software for the improved statistical method and to write a corresponding user’s guide
To propose a technique for estimating the uncertainty of food consumption measurements. Roughly it consists of:
- building the cause-and-effect diagram of a consumption pattern
- defining the error propagation model
- performing a collaborative inter-institute study to estimate the components of some variances
- proposing a final calculation model for estimating uncertainty

Provide specific recommendations on how to adapt the method being designed to assess dietary intake at an individual level (EPIC SOFT) for use in the assessment of dietary exposure to a specific category of potentially hazardous substances.

To extend and adapt the computerized 24-hour diet recall programme (EPIC-SOFT), to prepare new EPIC-SOFT versions and to provide support for implementing the EPIC dietary methodology to the needs and contexts of pan-European monitoring survey substances.

Preparation of databases required (by WP5a) for new and revised EPIC-SOFT versions for countries involved in the validation study (WP1) and coordination of the implementation of the extended and adapted standardized computerized program (EPIC-SOFT) to pan-European monitoring surveys.

Transnational dissemination of the EFCOVAL results among all stakeholders through a) a dedicated website; b) electronic newsletters, c) a closing conference at the end of the project, d) workshops. A variety of other dissemination activities will be carried out by the individual partners.