PRINCIPAL SOURCES OF DIETARY-FAT IN AUSTRALIA - EVIDENCE FROM APPARENT CONSUMPTION DATA AND THE NATIONAL DIETARY SURVEY OF ADULTS

The present study evaluates the evidence about the principal sources o f fat in the Australian diet from the national pei capita food supply data (apparent consumption; AC) and the national dietary survey of 625 5 adults aged 25 to 64 years (NDSA). The AC and the NDSA data were con verted to, and expressed on, an equivalent food basis to allow appropr iate comparisons of foods consumed, and food sources of dietary fat. T he AC figures shelved that the principal sources of fat nationally wer e meat, edible fats, fat spreads and oils, and milk and milk products. As an estimate of adult food consumption the AC underestimated beef a nd veal, lamb, total meat, and poultry consumption by 41, 10, 29 and 1 3% respectively, and overestimated offal, milk and milk products, and fats and oils by 15, 61, 20, and 29% respectively. The AC data rated f at spreads and cooking fats as providing more of the fat in the adult diet than did the NDSA, both in terms of total fat and fat as a percen tage of energy. Conversely, on this same basis, the AC underrated meat s as sources of fat in the adult diet. Other foods were of similar imp ortance as sources of dietary fat in both sets of data. The AC markedl y underestimated adult fat intake at 32% of energy compared with the N DSA result of 37%. These results have implications for epidemiological research and for the development of food and nutrition policy and pro grammes in Australia and similar countries.