[Dietary fat consumption of the French population and quality of the data on the composition of the major food groups].
Résumé
The validity of estimated association between dietary fat intake and cancer depends both on the methodology of dietary assessment used and on the quality of food composition data. The food composition database of Afssa/Ciqual shows that there is a deficiency in data on fatty acids. In order to identify the priorities for improving the quality of the database, we analysed the data quality of major dietary contributors of fatty acids in the French population. These food contributors, listed according to their contribution to fat intake, have been identified by French national consumption survey Inca. Consumption studies in France show a high dietary fat contribution (37-38% even 40% of total energy) with over-consumption of saturated fatty acids, under-consumption of monounsaturated fat and, to a lesser extent of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Major food contributors of total fat and saturated fatty acids are butter, cheese, meat products, meats, dishes, dressing, cakes and pastry and, only in children, biscuits. Among contributors of monounsaturated fatty acids, vegetable oils and sauces are listed after processed meats before meats, butter, cheese and dishes. Vegetable oils and sauces are the major contributors of polyunsaturated fatty acids before "fatty" potatoes (such as chips...) in adults whereas the opposite was observed in children. Composition tables do not presently allow the identification of contributors of specific fatty acids (omega 3, omega 6, conjugated linoleic acid). If nutritional data of milk products, fats, and oils are reliable because of existing specific tables for these products, there is a need for improving quality of composition data for other major contributors such as: meats, processed meats, fish and dishes such as pizzas, pasteries...