EPIC-SOFT A EUROPEAN DIETARY ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENT FOR 24-H RECALLS

Within the EPIC study (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) a calibration approach is applied to compare dietary da ta obtained by food frequency questionnaires from 9 European countries . A software for 24-h recalls was developed as the calibration instrum ent by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in colla boration with all national EPIC centers. This computer program, called EPIC-SOFT, is an interview-based dietary assessment instrument that a llows one to obtain a very detailed description and quantification of foods, recipes, and supplements consumed in the course of the precedin g day. Probing questions and entering consumed foods in chronological order support the respondent's memory. The standardized structure pres cribes - on the food group level - possibilities of description and qu antification of food items to choose from. Quantification of consumed foods is supported by the EPIC-SOFT picture book that comprises colore d photographs of foods in different portion sizes. The software provid es an automatic coding of food items and recipe ingredients as well as calculation of nutrient intake. EPIC-SOFT is characterized by the obt ained standardization of dietary data within Europe, a large number of available foods and recipes, and a very detailed description of consu med foods. Currently, EPIC-SOFT is one of the few dietary instruments providing comparable nutritional data within Europe.