Food intake figures exaggerated—dietitian

Press, 16 August 1989, Page 45

Food intake figures exaggerated —dietitian

PA Wellington New Zealanders would all have the girth of Sumo wrestlers if Statistics Department food consumption figures are to be believed. If we all ate as much as claimed, we would all be putting on half a kilogram every week, and carrying extra weight equivalent to two crates of beer every year. According to the Government Statistician, Mr Steve Kuzmicich, the average energy level of food consumed per person per day is 3034 calories, which means we’re all putting away as many as eight meat pies every day. A Health Department dietitian, Ms Isabel Mac Neill, says the recommended daily intake for healthy adult men is 2630 calories, and 2030 for women.

To use up 500 extra calories a day, the average person would have to run t cross-country formal most an hour. To | I"'

burn up 1000 would take about three hours’ garden toil.

So are New Zealanders extraphysical or piling up their plates? Well, the statistics included the gravy beef bought for the dog, the fat used to fry the fish and chips and the box of bananas that went rotten in the fruit shop, Department of Statistics research officer, Mr Geoff Mead said. The statistics were calculated by taking all New Zealand food production, subtracting exports and adding imports. Livestock feed production was taken off the total, but not pet food or wastage. The total amount of food available for consumption was then divided by the total population to give the average per person. The statistics are part of the food balance sheet used to compare consumption trends over the years and with other countries. ' 'A'"