The Measurement of Consumption: A Comparison of Surveys and Diaries

The authors link consumers’ consumption behavior as reported by a 24-hour recall method and two-day diaries for 39 different food groups. Both frequency of ingestion and average serving size are compared across both methods. The study is based on the current U.S. Department of Agriculture Nationwide Food Consumption Survey, spring quarter, including 7945 individuals. The data suggest that the 24-hour recall measurements did not differ significantly from the two-day diaries.