Purpose: In the Netherlands, voluntary fortification of foods with micronutrients is allowed under strict regulations. This study investigates the impact of voluntary food fortification practices in the Netherlands on the frequency and type of fortified food consumption and on the micronutrient intakes of the Dutch population. Methods: Data of the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey (2012–2016; N = 4314; 1–79 year) and the Dutch Food Composition Database (NEVO version 2016) was used. To determine if voluntary fortified foods could be classified as healthy foods, criteria of the Dutch Wheel of Five were used. Habitual intakes of users and non-users of voluntary food fortification were calculated using Statistical Program to Assess Dietary Exposure (SPADE) and compared. Results: Within the Dutch population, 75% could be classified as user of voluntary fortified foods. Consumed voluntary fortified foods were mostly within food groups ‘Fats and Oils’, ‘Non-alcoholic Beverages’ and ‘Dairy products and Substitutes’ and fell mostly outside the Wheel of Five. Voluntary foods contributed between 9 and 78% to total micronutrient intake of users. Users had up to 64% higher habitual micronutrient intakes, compared to non-users. These higher intakes resulted into lower risks on inadequate intakes, and did not contribute to increased risks of excessive intakes. Conclusion: Although voluntary fortified foods increased micronutrient intakes, most of these foods cannot be classified as healthy foods. Future studies should study the association between higher micronutrient intakes and (potential) excessive intakes of e.g. saturated fat and sugar to better understand the role of voluntary fortified foods in a healthy food pattern.

Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by various fungi that can contaminate food crops, which, in turn, may lead to human exposure. Chronic exposure to mycotoxins can cause adverse health effects including reproductive and developmental toxicity. Pregnant women and their foetuses present a vulnerable group for exposure to mycotoxins that can cross the placenta. Human biomonitoring of mycotoxins provides a real-life approach to estimate internal exposure. In this pilot study, 24-h urine samples from 36 pregnant Dutch women were analysed for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), total deoxynivalenol (DON), de-epoxy-deoxynivalenol (DOM-1), total zearalenone (ZEN), total α-zearalenol (α-ZEL), total β-zearalenol (β-ZEL) and total zearalanone (ZAN), where ‘total’ refers to mycotoxins and their conjugated forms. Serum samples from these women were analysed for fumonisin B1 (FB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA). All samples were measured using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The most prevalent mycotoxins were total DON, total ZEN and OTA, with a detection frequency of 100%. DOM-1, total α-ZEL and total β-ZEL were detected but to a lesser extent, while AFM1, total ZAN and FB1 were undetected. Median concentrations were 4.75 μg total DON/L, 0.0350 μg DOM-1/L, 0.0413 μg total ZEN/L, 0.0379 μg total α-ZEL/L, 0.0189 μg total β-ZEL/L, and 0.121 μg OTA/L. The calculated median concentration for total ZEN and its metabolites was 0.105 μg/L. Based on two separate risk assessment approaches, total DON exposure in this group was considered to be of low concern. Similarly, exposure to total ZEN and its metabolites in this group was of low concern. For OTA, the risk of non-neoplastic effects was of low concern based on exposure in this group, and the risk of neoplastic effects was of low concern in the majority of participants in this group. The findings of this pilot study confirm the presence of mycotoxins in the urine and serum of pregnant Dutch women, with total DON, total ZEN, and OTA most frequently detected. Exposure to all measured mycotoxins was considered to be of low concern in this group, except for exposure to OTA, which was of low concern for the majority of participants. The study’s findings offer valuable insights but should be confirmed using a larger and more diverse sample of the Dutch general population.

: Purpose: In the Netherlands, margarines and other plant-based fats (fortified fats) are encouraged to be fortified with vitamin A and D, by a covenant between the Ministry of Health and food manufacturers. Frequently, these types of fats are also voluntarily fortified with other micronutrients. The current study investigated the contribution of both encouraged as well as voluntary fortification of fortified fats on the micronutrient intakes in the Netherlands. Methods: Data of the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey (2012–2016; N = 4, 314; 1–79 year.) and the Dutch Food Composition Database (NEVO version 2016) were used to estimate micronutrient intakes. Statistical Program to Assess Dietary Exposure (SPADE) was used to calculate habitual intakes and compared to dietary reference values, separate for users and non-users of fortified fats. Results: Of the Dutch population, 84% could be considered as user of fortified fats. Users consumed mostly 1 fortified fat a day, and these fats contributed especially to the total micronutrient intake of the encouraged fortified micronutrients (vitamins D and A; 44% and 29%, respectively). The voluntary fortification also contributed to total micronutrient intakes: between 7 and 32%. Vitamin D and A intakes were up to almost double among users compared to non-users. Intakes were higher among users for almost all micronutrients voluntarily added to fats. Higher habitual intakes resulted into higher risks of excessive vitamin A-intakes among boys and adult women users. Conclusion: Consumption of fortified fats in the Netherlands resulted into higher vitamin A and D-intakes among users, compared to non-users of these products.

Purpose: Adequate micronutrient intakes are essential for young children. Special young child formulae (YCF) intended for children from 1 year old are available in the Dutch market. Since YCF are enriched with many micronutrients, it has the potential to have a beneficial effect on young children, or might pose a risk on excessive micronutrient intakes. The current study investigated the characteristics of YCF users, and the effect of YCF use on micronutrient intakes. Methods: Data from the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey (2012–2016; n = 440 children aged 1–2 year old) and the Dutch Food Composition Database (NEVO version 2016) were used to assess micronutrient intakes. Habitual intakes of users and non-users of YCF were calculated using Statistical Program to Assess Dietary Exposure (SPADE) and compared. Results: In the Netherlands, YCF was consumed by 21% of the 1–2-year-olds. YCF contributed mostly to total vitamin D intake (76%) and between 0 and 50% for other micronutrients. Higher vitamin A, B1, C, D, E, total folate, iron and zinc intakes were observed among users, and higher potassium and phosphorus intakes were found among non-users. Risk of inadequate intake was low among both users and non-users for most nutrients, and the only elevated risk of excessive intake found was for zinc among YCF users. Conclusion: YCF increased micronutrient intake, however, for most of the micronutrients there is already a low risk of inadequate intake. YCF increased the risk of excessive zinc intake. It is important that the addition of micronutrients to YCF is regulated, to prevent excessive intake.

The iron intake requirement distribution for premenopausal females is not symmetric, which invalidates the EAR (Estimated Average Requirement) cut-point approach for assessing prevalence of iron inadequacy. Therefore, Beaton's Full Probability Approach (PA) must be used. While the PA requires information on the entire iron intake requirement distribution, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) only provided the EAR (50th percentile), 90th, 95th (PRI) and 97.5th percentiles. This study aimed to reliably estimate the prevalence of iron inadequacy in premenopausal females using the PA, based on the intake requirements established by EFSA and compare the results with those obtained from the EAR cut-point method. Habitual iron intakes were calculated using Statistical Program to Assess Dietary Exposure (SPADE) with data from 484 females (20-45 y) from the Dutch National Food Consumption Survey 2012-2016. Iron requirement of EFSA (including additionally obtained information) were applied. Results from the PA were compared to results obtained with the EAR cut-point method. Sensitivity analyses examined the impact of lower iron intake distributions on differences in estimated inadequate intakes between PA and EAR-cut point method. A twofold higher prevalence of iron inadequacy among Dutch premenopausal females was observed when employing the PA compared to the EAR cut-point method, using EFSA's reference values. Sensitivity analysis showed that the EAR cut-point method could also result in large overestimations for populations with lower intake distributions. This study provided an example for using the PA method by using additionally derived information on the full requirement distribution underlying EFSA's reference values. Results showed once more the unsuitability of the EAR cut-point method to calculate the prevalence of iron inadequacy in premenopausal females. Hence, we recommend that institutions deriving dietary reference values provide all information needed to use the correct method to determine inadequate intakes in the population.

Purpose To prevent vitamin D deficiency subgroups are advised to daily take a vitamin D supplement. Knowledge on the compliance with this recommendation is limited. For young children, women over 50 yrs, and elderly, the supplementation recommendation is independent of sunlight exposure. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate compliance with the supplementation recommendation for these groups. Methods Data on young children (1–3 yrs, n = 703), women (50–69 yrs, n = 451), and elderly (70–79 yrs, n = 331) from the Dutch National Food and Consumption Survey (DNFCS) 2019–2021 were analysed for vitamin D-containing supplement use. With a general questionnaire (GQ) information was collected on frequency of use of sub-types of supplements (e.g. vitamin D, vitamin D & calcium, multivitamin, multivitamins-minerals). In two 24-h dietary recalls, use of supplements was reported in detail; e.g. type and dosage. Results 71% of young children, 38% of women, and 40% of elderly reported use of vitamin D-containing supplements (GQ: 80%, 55%, and 50%, respectively). Among supplement users, 70% of young children, 30% of women, and 35% of elderly used exactly the advised dosage. Conclusion Compliance with vitamin D supplementation recommendation was high in young children and could be improved most among women over 50 years and elderly. Further research is needed to identify effective strategies to improve compliance in these groups. In addition, to ensure that the supplementation recommendations are effective in achieving adequate vitamin D status, regular monitoring of vitamin D status and related health outcomes in all target groups is warranted.