Total Diet Survey

Table 10.1 Organophosphorus pesticide intakes calculated as % ADI in the New Zealand diet. Data from the 1997/98 New Zealand Total Diet Survey (Cressey et al., 2000)...

ADI exceedences are very rare indeed. In fact annual surveillance reports or total diet surveys from the USA, EU, New Zealand and Norway over the past two years have not reported a single ADI exceedance. The UK, however, had problems with lindane in milk (MAFF, 1996a) and chlormequat in pears (MAFF, 1999) in both cases the ADI was very closely approached and ministers took both cases very seriously indeed. In fact, the UK officials coined an interesting euphemism to describe this situation erosion of safety margins . 

The number of samples analysed varies greatly from country to country. For example, in Europe (Table 10.4) the greatest number of samples analysed on a per capita population basis is in Sweden (1001 x 10 6 per capita in 1996 - total number of samples analysed = 8908) and the smallest is in the UK (15 x 10-6 per capita - total number of samples analysed = 878) (Shaw, 1999). Whether this reflects the individual country s concern for consumer well-being is uncertain Countries that rely on fruit and vegetable exports often appear towards the top of the samples analysed per capitum league table. For example, Holland analysed 706 x 10 6 samples per capita in 1996 (total number of samples analysed = 11015 (Shaw, 1999) and was second in the European league. Some countries do not carry out pesticide monitoring schemes (e.g. New Zealand), but instead opt for the total diet survey approach. 

A distinguishing characteristic of Total Diet Surveys like the NZTDS (Cressey et al., 2000) is that foods are analysed as normally consumed (e.g. bananas peeled, meat cooked etc.). They therefore frequently provide the most relevant means of assessing the consumer s exposure. A Total Diet Survey is essentially a public health risk assessment tool, and not a compliance monitoring tool. 

Total Diet Surveys are often cheaper than full surveillance programmes. Countries with small populations and a consequent low tax revenue cannot... 

CRESSEY, p, VANNOORT, R, silvers, K and THOMSON, B (2000), 1997/98 New Zealand Total Diet Survey, Part 1 - Pesticides. Ministry of Health, Wellington, New Zealand. 

The Australian Market Basket Survey (AMBS) was set up to monitor pesticides and contaminants in food and estimate their intakes in diets of Australians (ANZFA, 1998). The first total diet survey was conducted by the NHMRC in 1970 and surveys have occurred regularly since then. Currently, it is a biennial survey organised and published by the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA, 1998). 

It is interesting that a comparison of concentrations analyzed 80 years later for the 2003—2004 New Zealand Total Diet Survey (NZTDS) (Vannoort and Thomson, 2005) indicates that the iodine content of cereals, fruits, vegetables and meat is similar to the previous values (Table 129.1). 

New Zealand Total Diet Survey 2003-2004 values are mean of 8 samples. 

Notes-. NZTDS, New Zealand Total Diet Survey. Iodine Intakes (rrg/day) In New Zealand from the 1920s to 2000s estimated from typical diets and concentrations In foods, or from dally urinary excretion assuming that approximately 90% of Intake Is excreted In urine. 

Twomey, A. (1968). Aust. J. Dairy Technol. 23, 162-163-Vannoort, R.W. and Thomson, B.M. (2005). 2003/04 New Zealand Total Diet Survey. New Zealand Food Safety Authority, Wellington. 

Table 6.40 illustrates those Pb values in U.S. food items recorded from several sources during the 1990s, limited to reported concentrations at or above indicated Pb concentrations. The data from Dudka and Miller (1999) for foods SO.03 ppm are presented as concentrations per food mass, while the FDA Total Diet Survey records Pb content s2.0 pg/individual serving. Root and leafy vegetables were significantly elevated compared to other items in the Dudka and Miller report while the FDA survey noted, as was the case in... 

TABLE 6.41 Lead Levels in Selected Food Items for the U.S. FDA Total Diet Survey (2004) ... 

---