National Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023 databases
The National Food Consumption Survey 2022-2023 database will be available for external users starting January 2026.
External users from universities and public institutions will be able to apply to one of the four anonymous databases, depending on their research needs. For all requests made before January 2028, an administrative fee of 1750 EUR will be charged.
1. Detailed food consumption dataset for food safety and exposure assessment (national sample)
This dataset will contain detailed consumption data of food and supplements (i.e.: 24-hour recalls linked to food composition tables + food frequency questionnaire). It will additionally contain the following personal data:
- age;
- sex;
- province;
- educational level;
- pregnancy/breastfeeding;
- height;
- weight;
- abdominal circumference.
2. Module by module dataset (national sample)
External users can request modules of the survey, following a clear module by module justification. Some restrictions will apply to socio-demographic variables to ensure that the dataset remains anonymous. Food consumption and physical activity data will be restricted to the indicators derived by the FCS team.
3. Brussels sample: module by module dataset
As for the national dataset, external users will also be able to request the dataset from the additional sample recruited in Brussels, for which a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to obtain information on dietary intake.
4. German Community sample: module by module dataset
As for the national dataset, external users will also be able to request the data from the additional sample recruited in the German Community, for which a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to obtain information on dietary intake.
Other bespoke datasets could be created depending on specific research needs (ex. detailed food consumption together with more covariates). Such requests might however lead to a lengthy process and require approval from the Information Security Committee. We therefore encourage researchers interested in such bespoke datasets to contact us well in advance. As we have extensive experience in the statistical analysis of data from the Food Consumption Survey (intake estimates, exposure assessment, analysis of accelerometer data), our research team is open to research collaborations.
For any question regarding data access, please send us an e-mail at: fcs@sciensano.be.
Application procedure for the National Food Consumption Survey 2014-2015 database
The database of the Belgian National Food Consumption Survey 2014-2015 contains coded data on food and nutrient intake, dietary habits, physical activity, sedentary behaviour and socio-demographic background characteristics of a representative sample of approximately 3,000 inhabitants of Belgium.
Consult the manuals of the 2014-2015 database for more information on the variables available, and how they are constructed:
manual for the food consumption part of the survey;- manual for other information obtained from the participants.
To obtain the database of the Belgian National Food Consumption Survey 2014-2015, a fee is charged. You can obtain the amount of the fee by sending us an e-mail to fcs@sciensano.be.
Two versions of the database can be obtained:
- a pseudonymised database, which requires the authorisation from the Social Security and Health Chamber of the Information Security Committee;
- an anonymised dataset, which doesn’t require the authorisation from the Social Security and Health Chamber of the Information Security Committee.
The procedure for both options is described below.
Access the pseudonymised database
The data of the Belgian National Food Consumption Survey 2014-2015 are subject to the law on the protection of privacy with regard to the processing of personal data of 8 December 1992 (the Privacy Act) and its implementing decree of 13 February 2001. These data can only be made available to third parties after approval of a deliberation by the Social Security and Health Chamber of the Information Security Committee.
The procedure for obtaining the pseudonymised data is as follows:
Data can be requested by module. In section 6 of the application for authorisation, it is therefore sufficient to indicate the modules that are required and to justify the relevance of the information in the context of the study. For each module or variable, it should be demonstrated in detail that the information is necessary for the proposed research. A vague or too general justification will not be accepted. In the annex at the end, all variables of the requested modules have to be mentioned as well. The Social Security and Health Chamber will check if the requested variables are proportionate to the objectives of the research.
The application should be submitted to the Information Security Committee by e-mail (ivc@mail.fgov.be).
You can find more information about the deliberations of the Social Security and Health Chamber of the Information Security Committee on the website of the Crossroads Bank for Social Security.
- First, submit an application for the use of the data to Sciensano using this form.
- After this, you will receive a draft data transfer agreement in
Dutch or French from us between all parties (Sciensano, FPS Public Health and the applicant). Aspects covered by this agreement include the fee, the method of supply, the security measures, the duration of the availability of the data, the reporting of the research results, the intellectual property and the responsibilities of all partners. - Submit a request for a new deliberation by the Social Security and Health Chamber of the Information Security Committee using the model form provided for that purpose in Dutch or French. In this form, Sciensano has been pre-filled in a number of aspects relating to the Belgian National Food Consumption Survey 2014-2015 (in blue). This application must also include at least the following annexes:
- the project objective pursued in the framework of the agreement between the applicant and Sciensano/FPS Public Health
- the list of variables requested. For this purpose, you can use the 2 manuals of the dataset ( food consumption + general) of the Belgian National Food Consumption Survey 2014-2015
- the information brochure ( Dutch/ French) that was sent to the selected persons and in which it was explicitly mentioned that the data of the Belgian National Food Consumption Survey 2014-2015 can be used by various institutions (including universities and research centres)
- a small cell risk analysis; this is necessary to ensure that no re-identification is possible due to the combination of certain data. Such a risk analysis was carried out for the total dataset and would therefore be valid for a subset of the database
- the draft agreement for the transfer of the data between Sciensano/FPS Public Health and the applicant.
- After approval by the Social Security and Health Chamber, you can send a copy of the approved deliberation to Sciensano (by e-mail to fcs@sciensano.be) together with the data transfer agreement with Sciensano/FPS Public Health, electronically signed by the applicant.
- Sciensano submits the agreement for approval to the FPS Public Health, as they are co-owners of the data.
- After approval by the FPS Public Health, Sciensano will then send you an original copy of the agreement (signed by all parties) and the invoice.
- You will receive by e-mail a download link that gives access to a secure website where you can download the requested data.
Access the anonymised database
Alternatively (in particular for risk exposure assessments) an anonymised dataset can be requested without a procedure via the social security and health chamber of the information security committee.
This dataset contains, besides consumption data of food and supplements (i.e.: 24-hour recalls linked to food composition tables + food frequency questionnaire), only the following personal data:
- age
- sex
- province
- educational level
- pregnancy/breastfeeding
- height
- weight
- abdominal circumference.
The procedure for obtaining the anonymised data is the same as described above, but without step 3 and using this application form. A separate version of the data transfer agreement in Dutch or French will be used for the data exchange.
Any further questions? Contact the FCS team.