US EPA

EPA released the final report, Analysis of Fat Intake Based on USDA’s 1994-1996, 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII, Final Report). For this report, the EPA conducted an analysis of fat consumption across the U.S. population based on data derived from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 1994-96, 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII) and EPA's Food Commodity Intake Database (FCID). Percentiles of fat consumption were calculated on the basis of total mass and on a per-unit body-weight basis for 12 food categories and 98 demographic cohorts. In addition, dietary breakdown and fat intake percentiles were calculated for a subset of the sample population whose consumption of animal fats exceeded the 90th percentile within its age group.

Due to the tendency of some chemicals to accumulate in fat, a thorough analysis of the dietary habits of the American public, combined with data on the amount of fat present in various types of food, would aid in the identification of potential exposure pathways. This report characterizes the consumption of fat from a wide range of food sources (e.g., beef, oils, poultry) within various demographic subpopulations. The report assists exposure assessors to identify major sources of fat in the diet, target populations for intensive study, and identify food-specific exposure pathways for the general population or for individual groups.

Many chemicals found in the environment tend to accumulate in fatty tissue. Assessing risks from these chemicals requires knowledge of dietary habits and the amount of fat present in various types of foods.

With the report finalized and posted, data from this report will be referenced into the revisions to EPA's Exposure Factors Handbook (EFH) and the Child-Specific Exposure Factors Handbook (CSEFH).

U.S. EPA. Analysis of Fat Intake Based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 1994-96, 1998 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals (CSFII, Final Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-05/021, 2007.