Diet balance missed in EU yet most think they eat well

A majority of consumers believe they eat a healthy diet but most fail to meet daily recommendations for fats and other nutrients, according to a survey.

The survey formed part of a presentation by Prof Michael Gibney, professor of nutrition in the department of clinical medicine, Trinity College, at Dietary Fibre 2000. The six-day international conference at the Berkeley Court and Jury's Hotel in Ballsbridge has attracted more than 300 delegates and was officially opened yesterday by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.

The Institute of European Food Studies had conducted several pan-EU studies to understand consumer attitudes to food, nutrition and health, Prof Gibney told the conference. These involved surveys of 1,000 adults in each member-state.

Consumers ranked "trying to eat healthily" fifth in a group of 15 factors affecting their selection of foods, the survey showed. Consumers were also able to define "healthy eating" - for example, eating less fat, taking more fruit and vegetables and having a balanced diet.

"Remarkably, some 71 per cent either agreed or agreed strongly with the statement: `I do not need to make changes to my diet as my diet is already healthy enough'," Prof Gibney said. However, eating habits indicated that consumers in most countries, including Ireland, were nowhere near achieving recommended levels for fat intake, fibre or folic acid.

Prof Gibney also highlighted potential problems in establishing an EU-wide policy on healthy eating, given significant differences in dietary habits across the EU. He said the forthcoming EU Food Safety Agency was charged with establishing a "comprehensive food and nutrition policy", including dietary guidelines.

"Given the diversity of eating patterns in the EU, this will pose considerable problems in defining harmonised public health nutrition objectives," Prof Gibney said. "There is a clear north-south divide in the ratio of per cent energy from saturates to monounsaturates [fats], lower in the south and higher in the north."

The conference continues until Thursday and is hosted by Megazyme International.