DRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines - Eat For Health

1989 - 1995 Composition of Foods, Australia (COFA)
The Composition of Foods, Australia (COFA) series was released in seven volumes, containing the
first compilation of new Australian-sourced data for Australian foods from the analytical work of
Greenfield and colleagues.
1991 Recommended Dietary Intakes for use in Australia
The development of the Recommended Dietary Intakes (RDIs) began in 1980 and the report was
published in 1991 [941]. The RDIs are derived from estimates of requirements for each age/sex
category and incorporate generous factors to accommodate variations in absorption and
metabolism. They therefore apply to group needs. RDIs exceed the actual nutrient requirements
of practically all healthy persons and are not synonymous with requirements.
1992 Food and Nutrition Policy
The Australian Food and Nutrition Policy, endorsed in 1992 [33], aims to improve the health of
Australians and reduce the burden of preventable diet-related death, illness and disability. The
policy strategies were developed in alignment with dietary guidelines and based on principles of
good nutrition, ecological sustainability and equity.
1992 Dietary Guidelines for Australians
An expert panel was set up in 1989 by the Public Health Committee to review the existing dietary
guidelines. In 1992, the Dietary Guidelines for Australians were published by the NHMRC for use by
healthy adults. They represented the best consensus of scientific knowledge and public health
advice available. A guideline to encourage and support breastfeeding was included, as were specific
guidelines on calcium and iron.
1995 The Core Food Groups
The Core Food Groups [942] was the modeling document that underpinned the development of the
food guide- the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating (see below). The purpose of The Core Food Groups
[942] was to discuss the basis for a core food group system that reflects advances in nutrition
knowledge and to complement existing nutrition references at the time (for example, Dietary
Guidelines for Australians, 1992). The need for a core food group system arose because existing
food selection guides in Australia at the time differed in the advice offered. The Core Food Groups
document was developed to provide an approach that was objective, scientifically rigorous and
updateable as new evidence on nutrition became available. It provided advice on core food
DRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines- December 2011 151