Population Nutrition Goals and Targets for Australia: Influences of New Australian Food Composition Data

The national nutrition goals and targets set for Australia 2000 were based on data for foods and nutrients available for consumption in 1983–84, calculated using the 1970Tables of Composition of Australian Foods,and the Australian population in 1983–84. This study uses the new data for Australian foods analyzed in the mid-80s and published inComposition of Foods, Australia,to recalculate the 1983–84 baseline food and nutrient availability data and to assess progress after 7 years (1990–91) toward the original 2000 nutrition goals and targets for dietary fat, refined sugars, dietary fiber, and alcohol. The new Australian food composition data had a major impact on the baseline data for food and nutrient availability: the 2000 target for total fat of 33% energy had apparently almost been met at the time set (at 34% energy); ethanol levels had apparently already decreased by two-thirds of the desired reduction; while the recalculated baseline for refined sugars became 16% energy, instead of the 14% previously estimated, thus placing the 2000 target of 12% energy further from reach. There was little true progress toward the targets after 7 years. Improved goals and targets for 2000 for all macronutrients are proposed.