Significant trends in food consumption in the Netherlands

A National food consumption survey has been held in the Netherlands every five years since 1987. This document presents the most significant dietary trends for the period 1987/88 to 1997/98, and outlines their possible consequences in terms of public health. The focus of the document is on three groups: the population as a whole, the 13 to 18 age group and the 19 to 35 age group. Because the period under review was marked by a number of demographic shifts, the data used for analysis have been standardised according to age, gender and education based on the situation obtaining in 1987/88(1).