In short
Do we eat enough fibre, vitamins and minerals, while avoiding excessive sugar or fat? Do we consume too many heavy metals, additives or other undesirable products through our diet? The National Food Consumption Survey tells us in detail what and how much the Belgian population eats. The government can use this information to prioritise its food policies. It also allows us to properly underpin dietary guidelines. In addition, the legislation on additives and contaminants can be monitored and amended in a more targeted way.
Project description
Nutrition and eating habits as well as food policies change constantly, which is why food consumption surveys need to be organised regularly.
The first National Food Consumption Survey in Belgium was conducted in 2004 among 3,200 adults aged 15 and above. We collected nationally representative data on the Belgian population in 2014-2015 for people between 3 and 64 years old. In march 2022, we started the latest data collection wave, collecting detailed information on the diets of 3,020 participants aged 3 and above in a national sample and of an extra 1,400 participants in Brussels and the German-speaking community.
The survey also provides information on topics such as:
- eating habits;
- opinions on food policy;
- physical activity;
- sedentary behaviour.
Method and sample
The participants are randomly selected from the Belgian National Register using multistage stratified clustered sampling methods.
The fieldwork is spread out over 12 months. The selected participants receive an invitation letter and an information leaflet. A few days later, a trained interviewer visits the respondents’ homes to ask them to participate in the survey and makes an appointment for the interview(s).
Participants provide detailed information about their diets spread over two non-consecutive days via a 24-hour dietary recall (or a food diary for children). They also fill in a Food Propensity Questionnaire between the two home visits. In 2022-2023, additional participants are interviewed in Brussels and the German-speaking Community using a detailed Food Frequency Questionnaire instead.
The interviewer objectively measures weight, height, and waist circumference. In children and adolescents, physical activity and sedentary behaviour are objectively measured using an accelerometer since 2014-2015.
Data collection is conducted using a Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) with the program GloboDiet® and traditional survey questions. Sensitive data are collected using a self-administered questionnaire.
Access to the methodological reports of the Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023:
Methodology Report on Use of Accelerometers
Methodology Report on Finger Prick
Food list
foodlist_fcs.xlsx
Study protocol
Consult the 
protocol of the 2022 survey for more information on the methods. A detailed description of the methods of the 2014-2015 survey is also available.
Questionnaires
The 2022-2023 questionnaires are available in French and Dutch:
- General questionnaire for the Brussels survey: fcs_questions_brussels_child.xlsx fcs_questions_brussels_adolescent.xlsx fcs_questions_brussels_adults_18-64.xlsx fcs_questions_brussels_adults_65.xlsx
- General questionnaire for the national survey: fcs_questions_national_child.xlsx fcs_questions_national_adolescent.xlsx fcs_questions_national_adult_18-64.xlsx fcs_questions_national_adult_65.xlsx
- General questionnaire for the German Community: fcs_questions_ger_adult_18-64.xlsx
The 2014-2015 questionnaires are available in French and Dutch:
- General questionnaire: Children ( Dutch — French), Adolescents ( Dutch — French), Adults ( Dutch — French)
- Food Propensity Questionnaire: Children ( Dutch - French), Adolescents and Adults ( Dutch - French)
- Health questionnaire: Children ( Dutch — French), Adolescents ( Dutch — French), Adults ( Dutch — French)
Accessing the database
The database of the National Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023 will be available for external users starting January 2026. More information can be found here.
In the meantime, the National Food Consumption Survey 2014-2015 database is already available for external users. Detailed instructions on how to request and query this database are described in detail in this procedure.
Interactive dashboard: EatMoveStats
The results of the Food Consumption Survey are available online through an interactive tool, EatMoveStats enabling users to explore the data and perform their own analyses.
Request for analyses
We have extensive experience in the statistical analysis of data from the Food Consumption Survey, particularly in the following areas:
- survey questions analysis;
- intake estimates;
- exposure assessment;
- analysis of accelerometer data (related to physical activity).
Upon request, we can perform tailored statistical analyses using the Food Consumption Survey data.
For inquiries, please contact the survey team directlyfcs@sciensano.be
