Meat consumption in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohorts: results from 24-hour dietary recalls

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate meat intake patterns in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohorts.

DESIGN AND SETTING

24-Hour dietary recalls were assessed within the framework of a prospective cohort study in 27 centres across 10 European countries by means of standardised computer-assisted interviews.

SUBJECTS

In total, 22 924 women and 13 031 men aged 35-74 years.

RESULTS

Mean total meat intake was lowest in the 'health-conscious' cohort in the UK (15 and 21 g day-1 in women and men, respectively) and highest in the north of Spain, especially in San Sebastian (124 and 234 g day-1, respectively). In the southern Spanish centres and in Naples (Italy), meat consumption was distinctly lower than in the north of these countries. Central and northern European centres/countries showed rather similar meat consumption patterns, except for the British and French cohorts. Differences in the intake of meat sub-groups (e.g. red meat, processed meat) across EPIC were even higher than found for total meat intake. With a few exceptions, the Mediterranean EPIC centres revealed a higher proportion of beef/veal and poultry and less pork or processed meat than observed in central or northern European centres. The highest sausage consumption was observed for the German EPIC participants, followed by the Norwegians, Swedish, Danish and Dutch.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate distinct differences in meat consumption patterns between EPIC centres across Europe. This is an important prerequisite for obtaining further insight into the relationship between meat intake and the development of chronic diseases.

Rubella in Guipuzcoa (Basque Country, Spain) a four-year serosurvey

Since the early 1980s, Spain has practiced mass vaccination of preschool children and selective vaccination of prepubertal girls. Estimated vaccination coverage in the province of Guipúzcoa (Basque Country) in recent years is about 95% (confirmed minimums of 89% for preschool children and 87.5% for 11 to 12 year-old girls). From the seroepidemiological study we could deduce that there was extensive circulation of wild rubella virus until recently (72-75% of unvaccinated girls 10 to 11 years-old had rubella antibody). More than 98% of the population at risk, represented in this study by 13,564 women (67% of all who bore children over a four-year period), possessed rubella antibodies. In the course of the study period the number of subjects (puerperal women and children) susceptible to infection declined. In spite of this favorable situation, the seroepidemiological study disclosed certain gaps that should be corrected to meet the targets for the European Region of the Expanded Programme on Immunization, and to achieve the goal of elimination of wild rubella virus in the area.