Contemporary use of traditional and imported food among Greenlandic Inuit

A health interview survey was carried out in Greenland in 1993-94 among ran domly selected adult Inuit (N = 1580) to gather information about people's perceptions of their own health and living conditions. Questions about pref erence for and frequency of consumption of selected traditional and importe d food items were included in the questionnaire. Preference ratings show th at traditional food was well liked in all age groups, but especially by the elders. The questionnaire showed more pronounced differences between age g roups in how frequently traditional foods were consumed. Residence in a vil lage or a remote part of the country, male gender, and a traditional upbrin ging were also good predictors of a high consumption of traditional food. O n average, seal meat was the most frequently consumed traditional food, eat en daily by 20% of respondents, followed by fish (17%), wildfowl (10%), wha le meat (6%), and terrestrial animals (2%). Imported food items Like potato es, cheese, and fruit syrup were consumed daily by more than 70%. Two conce rns for the future are the decreasing consumption of traditional food among the younger generations and the possible contribution of contaminants in t raditional food to this trend.