IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

Trends in food availability in

Switzerland, 1961-2007

Pedro Marques-Vidal, Filipa Guerra and Fred Paccaud

Swiss Public Health Conference

Basel, August 25-26, 2011

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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Background and aims

Background

� There is little if no information regarding dietary trends

in Switzerland in the long term.

Aims

� Assess trends in food availability in Switzerland, in

comparison with its immediate neighbors (Austria,

France, Germany, Italy), for the period 1961-2007.

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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Methods

� Food and Agricultural Organization food balance

sheets from Austria, France, Germany, Italy and

Switzerland (http://www.fao.org/).

� Food commodities supply for a given country is

estimated taking into account total production,

imports, exports and stocks of food as well as its non-

food use. The resulting yearly supply is then divided

by the average population and the number of days of

the corresponding year to obtain an estimate of the

daily food available per capita.

Chen et al. Eur J Nutr. 2007 Oct;46(7):418-27

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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Daily calories availability per capita

Switzerland

1961: 3545 kcal/d

2007: 3465 kcal/d

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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Daily protein availability per capita

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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Percentage of calories from protein

Switzerland

1961: 10.6%

2007: 10.8%

Target: 10-20%

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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Daily fat availability per capita

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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Percentage of calories from fat

Switzerland

1961: 34%

2007: 40%

Target: 30%

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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Daily carbohydrate availability per capita

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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Percentage of calories from carbohydrate

Switzerland

1961: 56% (50%)

2007: 49% (44%)

Target: 45-55%

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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Daily calories from alcoholic beverages

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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Types of fat available, Switzerland

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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Types of fruit available, Switzerland

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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Conclusion

During the period 1961-2007:

� Changes in food availability in Switzerland were less

pronounced than in their neighboring countries (EU

agricultural policy?)

� Total caloric availability declined slightly.

� Fat content in the diet increased.

� The types of fat available changed (food industry?).

� The types of fruit available changed (globalization?).

The Public Health impact of these changes remain to be

evaluated → next step.

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

Institute of Preventive Medicine, Lisbon

Filipa Guerra

Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Lausanne

Pedro Marques-Vidal

Fred Paccaud

IUMSPInstitut universitaire de médecine sociale et préventive, Lausanne

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Daily calories from sugar and sweeteners

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Daily calories from meat

Switzerland

+ poultry

- beef

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Daily calories from milk