OUT OF HOME FOOD CONSUMPTION:

A DRIVER OF POOR DIETS?

Prof. Carl Lachat, Dep Food Technology, Safety and Health

EATING OUT ?

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WHY CONSIDER EATING OUT?

WHO 2003: Evidence on factors that might promote

or protect against weight gain and obesity:

Possible increased risk for

High proportion of food prepared outside the home

(developed countries)

Important trend since the 60`s

Labour force participation of women

Demand for convenience

High disposable income price elasticity

Response by food service industry

BELGIUM

Based on place of consumption of breakfast, lunch and

dinner in 3-64 years

2014: Most meals consumed at home: 89% breakfast,

55% lunch and 86% dinner (Similar to 2004)

Male and young adults eat out more

>25% of the energy from eating out -> higher energy

intake, density but lower fruit and vegetable intake

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EVIDENCE ASSESSMENT

Assessment up to 2013 (brief update of citations)

Considering all sources, full assessment of diet

Systematic reviews

Eating out and diet quality

Eating out and obesity

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… WITH DIET QUALITY

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27 studies, 19 countries

Important in all age groups

School going children & young adults

Public catering

Increased E intake, %E from fat, lower micronutrient (Vit C, Ca & Fe)

Consistent associations

75% of Na from manufactured foods & foods eaten away from home

Positive effects with healthy offer Scandinavia

Public catering as entry point to improve diets?

...WITH BMI AND OBESITY

2 reviews, common papers from 12 countries

Heterogenous and conflicting findings

Men vs women

2 studies stratified by fast food restaurant: increased BMI

EPIC cohort: men who eat in restaurants were likely to

have a higher BMI

… but, not in USA

Only associations with restaurants and fast foods (not “on

the go”, friends, vending machines, etc..)

Associations ! not causality8

QUALITY OF EVIDENCE

Sensitivity assessment

Study type

Conceptualization

Exclusion of USA, low-and middle-income countries

Substantial heterogeneity and contextual differences

Very low quality

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WHAT TO CONCLUDE?

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Eating out is not for special ocasions anymore

Eating out is a substantial diver of diet quality

Increased reliance on external drivers

Public catering (schools, work site canteen, ..)

Urgent need for better data on sub groups (e.g.

young adults, SES)

URGENT NEED TO RE-CONCEPTUALISE

Measuring place of consumption?

Measuring place of preparation?

Determines content

What is preparation?

What is “home”

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“EXPOSURE” TO FOODBORNE OUTBREAKS IN EU

EFSA 2017N=643 12

CHALLENGE FOR FOOD SAFETY

Rapidly evolving sector and trends

Changing diets

Demand for minimally processed foods and convenience

Monitoring and surveillance

Policy response - > mainly public catering

Place of consumption or place of preparation?

Inherent challenges in the catering sector

SME

High staff turnover

Dependence on supply chain and costs

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IMPORTANT ENTRY POINT TO IMPROVE DIETS

Meal based guidelines, environmental interventions

Gastronomy as agent of change

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www.foodscience.ugent.be

@carl.lachat

References

• Lachat et al. (2009) Incorporating the catering sector in nutrition policies of WHO European Region: is there a good recipe? Public Health

Nutr 12(3), 316–324

• Lachat et al (2013) Diet and Physical Activity for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A

Systematic Policy Review. PlosMed 10:6 e1001465

• Lachat et al. (2010) Essential actions for caterers to promote healthy eating out among European consumers: results from a participatory

stakeholder analysis in the HECTOR project Public Health Nutr 14(2), 193–202

• Lachat et al. (2010) Essential actions for caterers to promote healthy eating out among European consumers: results from a participatory

stakeholder analysis in the HECTOR project Public Health Nutr 14(2), 193–202

• Lachat et al (2011) Eating out of home as a risk factor for poor diets: a systematic review of the evidence. Obes Rev 13(4), 329–346,

• Nago et al (2014) Association of out-of-home eating with anthropometric changes: a systematic review of prospective studies. Crit Rev Food

Sci Nutr 54:9, 1103-1116

• Bezerra et al (2012) Association between eating out of home and body weight. Nutr Rev 2012;70:65–79

• Vandevijvere et al. (2009) Eating out-of-home in Belgium: current situation and policy implications. British J Nutr 102 (06) 921-928