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The British Diet: Finding the Facts 1989 - 1993 22501118304 MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD THE BRITISH DIET: FINDING THE FACTS 1989-1993 The fortieth report of the Steering Group on Chemical Aspects of Food Surveillance Wellcome Centre for Medical Science Food Surveillance Paper No. 40 LONDON: HMSO © Crown copyright 1994 Applications for reproduction should be made to HMSO First published 1994 ISBN 0 11 242969 6 Previous Food Surveillance Papers published by HMSO are as follows: Food Surveillance Title Paper No. The surveillance of food contamination in the United Kingdom Survey of vinyl chloride content of polyvinyl chloride for food contact and of foods Survey of vinylidene chloride levels in food contact materials and in foods Survey of mycotoxins in the United Kingdom Survey of copper and zinc in food Survey of acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile levels in food contact materials and in foods Survey of dieldrin residues in food Survey of arsenic in food Report of the Working Party on Pesticide Residues (1977-1981) Survey of lead in food: second supplementary report Survey of styrene levels in food contact materials and in foods Survey of cadmium in food: first supplementary report Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) residues in food and human tissues Steering Group on Food Surveillance progress report 1984 Survey of aluminium, antimony, chromium, cobalt, indium, nickel, thallium and tin in food Report of the Working Party on Pesticide Residues (1982 to 1985) Survey of mercury in food: second supplementary report Mycotoxins Survey of colour usage in food Nitrate, nitrite and N-nitroso compounds in food Survey of plasticiser levels in food contact materials and in foods Anabolic, anthelmintic and antimicrobial agents The British diet: finding the facts Food Surveillance 1985 to 1988 Report of the Working Party on Pesticide Residues: 1985-88 Migration of substances from food contact materials into food Lead in food: progress report Programmes to monitor radioactivity in food Intakes of intense and bulk sweeteners in the UK 1987-1988 Plasticisers: continuing surveillance Dioxins in food Nitrate, nitrite and N-nitroso compounds in food: second report Veterinary residues in animal products 1986 to 1990 Report of the Working Party on Pesticide Residues: 1988-90 Food chemical surveillance 1989 to 1992 Mycotoxins: third report Dietary intake of food additives in the UK: initial surveillance Progress Report of the Working Party on Chemical Contaminants from Food Contact Materials 1988 to 1992 Aluminium in food (ii) STEERING GROUP ON CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF FOOD SURVEILLANCE This report was considered and recommended for publication by the Steering Group on Chemical Aspects of Food Surveillance (formerly the Steering Group on Food Surveillance) whose membership was then as follows: Dr W HB Denner BSc, PhD Ministry of Agriculture, (Chairman) Fisheries and Food Dr J C Sherlock BSc, PhD, CChem, Ministry of Agriculture, (Deputy Chairman) FRSC, FIFST Fisheries and Food Dr D P Atkins Bsc. PhD Ministry of Agriculture, (Secretary) Fisheries and Food Mrs J Hayes Ministry of Agriculture, (Administrative Fisheries and Food Secretary) Dr M E McQuillan BSc, PhD Ministry of Agriculture, (Minutes Secretary) Fisheries and Food Mrs E A Attridge Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Professor B W Bycroft BSc, PhD, CChem, University of FRSC Nottingham Professor J Caldwell BPharm, PhD, DSc, St Mary’s Hospital CBiol, FBiol Medical School Mr B HB Dickinson Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Dr GE Diggle MB, BS, MFPM, AKC Department of Health Mr A J Harrison OBE, MChemA, FRSC, Public Analyst FIFST, FRSH Professor S R Jones BSc, PhD British Nuclear Fuels plc Mr C P Kendall Department of Health Dr N J King BSc, PhD Department of the Environment Ms S Leather BA, BPhil, MA, CQSW Consumer representative Dr A F MacLeod LRCP, LRCS, The Scottish Office LRFP & S, MFPHMI Home and Health Department (iii) Dr C H McMurray BSc, BAgr, PhD, FRSC, Department of CChem, FIFST Agriculture for Northern Ireland Dr P I Stanley BSc, PhD Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food MA (Cantab), FIFST Mr P W Strachan Colmans of Norwich (iv) STEERING GROUP ON CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF FOOD SURVEILLANCE Terms of Reference To identify through surveillance the need for action to ensure the chemical safety and nutritional adequacy of food. (v) This report was prepared by the Working Party on Nutrients in Food and the Working Party on Dietary Surveys. WORKING PARTY ON NUTRIENTS IN FOOD At the time of preparation of this report, the membership was as follows: Dr R Harding BSc, MSc, PhD, Ministry of Agriculture, (Chairman) Barrister Fisheries and Food Ms R Abraham BSc, SRD Northwick Park Hospital Ms S Anderson BSc, SRD Freelance dietitian Dr D H Buss BSc, PhD, FIFST Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Dr R Cottrell PhD, CChem, FRSC, The Sugar Bureau FIFST, FRSH, FRSA Mr M J L Day MA Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food MB, BCh, FFPHM(I), Dr C Hall DHSS Northern Ireland DRCOG Mr B Harrison BSc, Mags, MIBiol, H J Heinz Co Ltd AIFST Ms B Holland BSc, SRD Royal Society of Chemistry Mr M Kipps BSc, MSc University of Surrey Dr A R Leeds MB, BS, MSc King’s College London Dr J Ludlow MCBH, MBChB, Welsh Office MFPhM, PhD Mr I Lumley BSc, MSc, CChem, Laboratory of the MRSC Government Chemist Dr R Skinner MBBS, MSc, MD, The Scottish Office MFPHM, PhD Home and Health Department Professor D A T BSc, PhD, CBiol, AFRC IFR Norwich Southgate MIBiol (until Aug 1992); now Visiting Professor University Newcastle upon Tyne Mr R Wenlock BSc, DipNutr, FRSH Department of Health (vi) Scientific Secretariat: Ms J Lewis BSc, SRD Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Miss G Smithers BSc Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (vil) WORKING PARTY ON NUTRIENTS IN FOOD Terms of Reference (1) To identify areas in which information on the content and availability of nutrients in foods is required to ensure that the nation’s food supplies and diets can be adequately monitored; to review programmes for maintaining McCance and Widdowson’s The Composition of Foods and the Ministry’s nutrient databank; to assess priorities; and to propose means of obtaining information; (11) When requested, to advise other committees and departments; and (iii) To report at intervals to the Steering Group on Chemical Aspects of Food Surveillance and, when appropriate, to request publication of the results in Food Surveillance Papers. (viii)