244 Introduction to Human Nutrition
units (if applicable) or in household measures.
Information may also be collected on brand names
and costs. The recording period is usually 1 week but
may be as long as 4 weeks.
This method is used to obtain food selection pat-
terns from populations or subgroups within a popu-
lation. It has the advantage of being fairly cost-effective
and is particularly useful for collecting data from
large samples. It may also be repeated at different
times of the year to identify seasonal variations in
food procurement.
The food account method does not measure food
consumption, wastage, or other uses, nor does it
account for foods consumed outside the home. It
assumes that household food stocks stay constant
throughout the recording period, which may not nec-
essarily be the case. For example, food purchases may
be done once a month and therefore stocks may be
depleted in the days preceding the purchase. It also
does not refl ect the distribution of food within the
household and therefore cannot be used to determine
food consumption by individuals within the house-
hold. Since the method relies on the respondents
being literate and cooperative, bias may be introduced
in populations with high levels of illiteracy. The
fact of having to record the acquisition may lead to
respondents changing their procurement patterns
either to simplify recording or to impress the
investigator.
Household food procurement
questionnaire/interview
A food procurement questionnaire or interview may
be used as an alternative method to the food account
method. In this method, the respondent indicates,
from a list of foods, which are used, where these are
obtained, the frequency of purchase, and the quanti-
ties acquired for a given period. The uses of the food
procurement method are similar to those of the food
account: to describe food acquisition patterns of
populations or subpopulations. In contrast to the
food account method, it does not require the respon-
dent to be literate as it may be administered as an
interview and it does not infl uence purchasing or
other procurement patterns.
The food procurement questionnaire/interview
does not provide information on actual food con-
sumption or distribution within the household. As
the method relies on recalled information, errors may
be introduced by inaccurate memory or expression of
answers.Household food inventory method
The food inventory method uses direct observation
to describe all foods in the household on the day of
the survey. The investigator records the types and
amounts of foods present in a household, whether
raw, processed, or cooked, at the time of the study.
Information may also be collected on how and where
food is stored.
A food inventory may be combined with the food
account to determine the changes of food stocks
during the survey period. It may also be used together
with a food procurement questionnaire to describe
the acquisition of foods in the household. This
method is time-consuming for the investigator and
very intrusive for the respondent, but is useful when
foods are procured by means other than purchase and
when levels of food security in vulnerable households
need to be assessed.Household food record
All foods available for consumption by the household
are weighed or estimated by household measures
prior to serving. Detailed information such as brand
names, ingredients, and preparation methods are
also recorded over a specifi c period, usually 1 week.
This method provides detailed information on the
food consumption patterns of the household, but it
is very time-consuming and intrusive and relies
heavily on the cooperation of the household. As for
the other household methods, it does not provide
information on distribution of food within the house-
hold or on individual consumption. When details of
the household composition are given, estimates of
individual intakes may be calculated. The method
also does not determine foods eaten away from the
home nor does it take into account food eaten by
guests to the home.10.3 Direct measures of food intake
Information on food intake can be obtained directly
from consumers in a number of different ways. Direct
measures are usually used to obtain food intake data
from individuals but may also be used to obtain data
from households. For example, in societies where it is
usual for members of the household to eat out of the