Jul 2026· Proceedings of the Nutrition Society· Vol 85· 0 citations· 1 references
TL;DR
This research describes the development of a tailored dietary feedback function within Intake24-NZ and its pilot testing with NZ registered nutrition professionals to identify improvements in accuracy, cultural safety and relevance for Māori and other ethnic groups, and appropriateness for public use.
Abstract
National nutrition surveys are essential to inform public health policies and programmes by providing detailed information on the dietary intake and nutritional wellbeing of a population. In New Zealand (NZ), updated, high-quality population-level dietary data is urgently needed, as the last Adult Nutrition Survey was conducted in 2008/09. Researchers from the University of Auckland and Massey University developed tools and methods to support a future National Nutrition Survey, including Intake24-NZ, a web-based 24-hour dietary recall system(1). Beyond capturing dietary intake data, Intake24-NZ provides an opportunity to deliver tailored, evidence-based dietary feedback directly to participants and users, raising awareness of national dietary guidelines, directing users to reliable online resources, and improving nutrition literacy. This research describes the development of a tailored dietary feedback function within Intake24-NZ and its pilot testing with NZ registered nutrition professionals to identify improvements in accuracy, cultural safety and relevance for Māori and other ethnic groups, and appropriateness for public use. Key feedback features of three existing international 24-hour dietary recall tools (ASA24-United States, Intake24-United Kingdom, myfood24-Australia) were reviewed to guide the development of the Intake24-NZ dietary feedback function. Relevant nutrients were selected based on the reviews, alongside other relevant dietary data sources and expert consultation. Nutrient recommendations were based on the NZ Eating and Activity Guidelines for Adults, Australia/NZ Nutrient Reference Values, and World Health Organization guidelines. A sample of NZ registered dietitians and nutritionists reviewed a prototype dietary feedback report and completed an 18-item acceptability questionnaire. Quantitative data was summarised descriptively and qualitative feedback thematically analysed to identify suggestions for improvement. The review of feedback features of existing tools collated information on layout, content, tailoring, and use of disclaimers. Preliminary development of the Intake24-NZ feedback function resulted in an interactive design featuring ‘nutrient tiles’ with expandable ‘tell me more’ sections. These display intakes for 11 key nutrients, along with disclaimers, practical dietary tips, population-level recommendations, and culturally relevant food examples. Māori health concepts and links to evidence-based nutrition and behaviour-change resources are embedded, with guidance on how to access further support. Full findings from the review, development process, and acceptability testing will be presented at the conference. This study provides a reproducible process for developing tailored dietary feedback for use in online 24-hour recall dietary assessment tools. Expert feedback is a vital step in the development process, providing a foundation for iterative refinement toward future implementation.
Standardized dietary assessment tools are essential for evaluating population diets, eating patterns, and their relationships with health. Although digital dietary assessment tools can support more standardized and efficient dietary data collection, they require appropriate cultural adaptation to be applicable in different populations. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the lack of a culturally appropriate digital 24-h dietary recall tool limits standardized dietary assessment for nutrition research and population surveys.
To develop a culturally adapted digital 24-h dietary recall application for the UAE population’s eating practices.
Abu Dhabi Food Intake24 (ADINTAKE24) is a tablet-optimized, Android-based application. It collects survey questionnaires and 24-h dietary recall data, calculates nutrient intake, and compares the results with the recommendations. The ADINTAKE24 uses the multiple-pass method that integrates food composition data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), regional, and local sources. UAE-specific food photographs aid in estimating food portion sizes. The application is available in Arabic and English and includes a web-based administrative interface. The system was iteratively developed and tested under field conditions during a large community-based nutrition survey. A pilot survey with families informed system refinement, followed by usability assessment among 35 trained interviewers using the System Usability Scale (SUS).
After initial development, the tool was piloted with 98 participants from 39 households using an interviewer-administered approach. Challenges identified during the pilot study included problems with saving and searching for food items in the food composition databases on the server during field data collection. Refinements were made based on the tool’s feedback to improve its functionality. The mean System Usability Scale (SUS) score was 69.9 (95% CI: 66.0–73.9; SD = 11.6).
Abu Dhabi Food Intake24 addresses a key gap in digital dietary assessment in the UAE. Further usability evaluation of the finalized application and validation for self-administered use are needed before wider implementation.
Habiba I. Ali, L. Akkad, Minat Allah T. Al Hassan et al.· Frontiers in Nutrition· 0 citations
ABSTRACT Food‐based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) are a key instrument for communicating healthy nutrition principles that are implemented in most countries. However, adherence remains low, and recent literature highlights the need for improvements. This exploratory study investigated consumer perceptions of the German FBDGs, focusing on strengths and areas for improvement. Ten individuals with diverse demographics, nutrition knowledge, and dietary motivation participated in semi‐structured interviews. Participants evaluated the content and design of the FBDGs regarding both comprehensibility and applicability. Additionally, participants provided feedback on a proposed mock‐up illustrating the concept of an AI‐based feedback tool aimed at enhancing individualization and contextual aspects. Overall, participants expressed more criticism than approval. Although the FBDGs were generally considered easy to understand, many found them difficult to translate into daily practice. Participants perceived the FBDGs as (a) too general for individualized diets and (b) too theoretical, offering little support for behavior change. Positive feedback mainly referred to the simple and understandable language. The mock‐up was received more positively, though some criticism regarding individualization was raised. The findings suggest that while the German FBDGs effectively illustrate healthy eating principles conceptually, they fall short in supporting real‐life implementation. The presented AI‐based tool represents a promising step toward more practical and individualized guidance but may still not be sufficient to induce substantial changes to behaviors. Future improvements to national dietary guidance may therefore require the development of complementary, behaviorally oriented programs that go beyond informational approaches and address the practical realities of everyday nutrition.
Nicolas Hartmann, P. Sprengholz· Food Science & Nutrition· 0 citations
Assessing dietary intake and nutritional status requires contemporary data. This paper describes the design of the Nutrimetry survey, a new continuous monitoring system in France, its participation rate, and the quality of its dietary data.
A representative sample of adults (18–79 years) and children (3–17 years) was selected using a non-probability quota sampling design. Quotas included age, sex, region, urban unit size, and socio-professional category, weighted against 2021 census data.
Food consumption was collected via a 3-day online dietary record. Information on physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sociodemographic was gathered by questionnaires. Complex foods were disaggregated into raw ingredients using a standardized recipe optimization process.
In total, 3,201 individuals (2,193 adults and 1,008 children) were included in 2024 results.
The final sample represented 7% of adult starters and 45.2% of eligible children. Mean energy intake was 1,852 kcal/d in adults and 1,693 kcal/d in children. The prevalence of energy under-reporting was 33.8% for adults and 22.6% for children. Under-reporting was significantly associated with higher BMI and younger age groups.
The Nutrimetry survey provides a robust, scalable framework for continuous national dietary surveillance in France. Despite challenges with online recruitment attrition, it generates timely data for public health policy and nutritional risk assessment.
E. Sauvage, Jean-Michel Lecerf, Victoria Dupuis et al.· Frontiers in Nutrition· 0 citations
Background/Objectives: There is continuing debate regarding the association between added sugars (AS) consumption and overall diet quality, which remains a research gap within the Canadian population. This study aimed to assess the association between intakes of added sugars and the Healthy Eating Food Index (HEFI) 2019 that measures adherence to Canada’s Food Guide as an indicator of diet quality. Methods: The first 24 h dietary recalls of Canadians 2 years and older (n = 19,532) from the 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey—Nutrition were used. Added sugars intakes were calculated based on a systematic 10-step algorithm. Descriptive statistics were obtained for total HEFI and component scores across different AS intake categories. The association between AS categories and HEFI scores was tested using a generalized linear model adjusted for age, sex, education level, type of smoker, and misreporting status. Results: The association between continuous AS intake and HEFI scores was non-linear. In the categorical model, AS intake categories were inversely associated with HEFI scores among Canadians (R2 = 0.32, p < 0.001). Large overlaps in HEFI scores were observed among individuals with similar AS intakes for the whole population and each age group. Among high AS consumers (>15% EI), lower HEFI scores were largely due to higher proportions of sweetened beverages (i.e., low beverage scores) and lower intakes of vegetables and fruit and plant-based proteins. Scores for protein food and whole grains were low across all AS intake categories. Conclusions: Large variations in overall HEFI scores were observed amongst those with similar AS intakes, suggesting that added sugars alone may not fully capture overall diet quality or adherence to Canada’s Food Guide.
Y. Wang, Zhongqi Fan, Sandra L. Marsden et al.· Nutrients· 0 citations
Insufficient dietary fibre intake can increase chronic disease risk with identification of effective strategies considered a public health priority. However, there are no UK-based dietary fibre intake tools to estimate consumption habits. This study addresses this gap by developing a novel dietary fibre screening tool (SCREEN-IT) for the UK population and explores validity, reproducibility and usability insights. SCREEN-IT was developed based on key dietary fibre-rich food categories in the UK diet. The validity of SCREEN-IT (10-item) was tested against a UK-based Food Frequency Questionnaire (eNutri-FFQ; 157-item) seven-days apart (n = 70; 55.1 ± 18.7 years). SCREEN-IT reproducibility (n = 155; 51.7 ± 18.2 years) was evaluated on two occasions (four-weeks apart) and usability (System Usability Scale; SUS) was assessed. Intra-class correlation coefficients, percentage difference, quartile agreement, weighted kappa and Bland-Altman plots were used to quantify agreement and extent of bias. Agreement between methods (SCREEN-IT vs. eNutri-FFQ) was “acceptable to good agreement”; higher dietary fibre estimates from eNutri-FFQ (mean bias: −3.91 g/d). SCREEN-IT was quick to complete (< 5-min) with higher SUS than eNutri-FFQ (83.4 vs. 76.8/100). SCREEN-IT was reproducible on re-test (“acceptable to good agreement”), mean bias close to zero (−0.04 g/d), high usability (84.9/100) and received positive feedback (easy-to-use, functional, thought-provoking, enjoyable). SCREEN-IT was successfully developed with favourable validity, reproducibility and usability feedback. It was considered a suitable tool to estimate dietary fibre intake for the UK population. This novel tool could help raise dietary fibre awareness by promoting relevant food sources in a quick and easy way to increase future intake.
Victoria Norton, J. Lovegrove, M. Weech et al.· European Journal of Nutritio...· 1 citation
Food insecurity, in children, is associated with poorer health and academic outcomes. Around 27% of New Zealand households have reported food insecurity(1). The Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches Programme(2) initiative in New Zealand schools aims to reduce food insecurity(3). This cross-sectional study assesses the nutritional contribution of the government-funded school lunches to daily nutrient intake among adolescents. The study compares nutrient intake during school hours between consumers (students from schools with funded lunch programme who ate during school hours) and non-consumers (students from schools with funded lunch programme who did not consume a funded lunch) and students from schools ineligible for the funded lunch. Dietary data was collected in 2024 via an online 24-hour recall (Intake24) from 390 intermediate and secondary school students in Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty. Demographic data was collected via survey. Nutrient intake from food consumed during the school day (between 9am–3pm) was considered ‘school lunch’ and expressed as a percentage of total daily intake. Students were grouped as consumers (n=95); non-consumers (n=109); and ineligible (n=186). Comparisons between groups were conducted using Kruskal-Wallis tests. The funded school lunch provided an average of 26% of daily energy and contributed proportionally higher amounts of several key nutrients when compared to energy provision, including fibre (31% of daily fibre intake), zinc (30%), and beta-carotene (37%). Consumers had significantly higher nutrient intakes than non-consumers. Nutrient contributions were comparable between consumers and ineligible students, except for total sugars, which were lower in consumers. In 2024, New Zealand’s government-funded school lunches were nutrient-dense and provided better nutritional value than lunches sourced elsewhere from students in eligible schools and similar or better nutritional value than lunches of ineligible students. Findings support continued investment and potential expansion of the programme to improve adolescent nutrition and reduce health inequities.
Jamie de Seymour, Karen D. Mumme, C. Conlon et al.· Proceedings of the Nutrition...· 0 citations
