Rationale for an international conference series on dietary assessment methods.

The rationale for establishing an international conference series on dietary assessment methods is based on the needs expressed by numerous national and international organizations for better methods of collecting and analyzing dietary data. Dietary assessment is essential for investigating diet-health relationships, formulating policies to reduce health risks, predicting the adequacy of the food supply, and monitoring trends in food use, exposure to contaminants, and compliance with dietary guidelines. The conference rationale is discussed with respect to 1) the need for improved methods to enhance our understanding of diet-health relationships, 2) the need for better methods to facilitate development and monitoring of nutrition-related health objectives, and 3) the importance of international participation. Improved methods for assessing food intakes will enhance our understanding of the role of diet in the etiology and prevention of disease and will facilitate the development of nutrition policy and programs leading to improved health worldwide.