MRC Epidemiology UnitThe EPIC-Norfolk FFQ was originally developed in 1988 and its food list and portion sizes represent those of an adult population likely to have established eating habits and following a traditional UK diet. This questionnaire was validated for the EPIC-Norfolk population and its use may not therefore be appropriate for a different population group or a different research question. If it is used as the basis for developing another FFQ, any changes to it would need validating for the particular study population.
More information about how the FFQ was used in EPIC-Norfolk can be found on the EPIC-Norfolk FFQ nutritional methods page.
Download
A copy of the FFQ can be downloaded for use in your study.
We do not currently have a version that can be completed electronically.
Data entry
FFQ data can be processed using the FETA tool. The current FETA tool is based on version 6 (CAMB/PQ/6/1205) of the EPIC-Norfolk FFQ.
The FFQ data needs to be in the correct format in order to process it through FETA.
Data entry instructions
A data entry template for the FFQ data is available for download.
Worksheets within the template:
- FETA template– for entering only the fields required for FETA
- Full FFQ Template– can be used if you would prefer to enter data for the entire FFQ including fields not used by FETA. Before running through FETA you will need to create a copy that only contains the columns in the FETA template.
- Sample data– an example of entered data
- Key– contains the key for the colour coding used in other worksheets
To ensure that processing goes smoothly do not alter the format in the template and do not delete or rename compulsory column headings (highlighted green).
The coded version of the FFQ contains all of the necessary codes to enter the FFQ data. Detailed instructions can be found below.
The FFQ is separated into two parts – Part 1 (the Main Grid, pages 3-8) and Part 2 (back of the FFQ, pages 9-11).
The Main Grid – Q1
The frequencies are coded 1-9, from ‘Never or less than once/month’ (1) to ‘6+ per day’ (9), respectively as shown below:
| Frequency | Data entry code |
|---|---|
| Never or less than once/month | 1 |
| 1-3 per month | 2 |
| Once a week | 3 |
| 2-4 per week | 4 |
| 5-6 per week | 5 |
| Once a day | 6 |
| 2-3 per day | 7 |
| 4-5 per day | 8 |
| 6+ per day | 9 |
If two frequencies are given for 1 line, enter both separated by a semi-colon, e.g. 2;3. The program selects the first frequency value given. If a line does not have a frequency, enter -9 (which denotes missing data).
We recommend that data from FFQs that have 10 or more missing ticks in the main grid are not run through FETA as this level of missing data would lead to a considerable underestimate of intake.
Back of the FFQ – Q2 Onwards
Only parts of this data are processed by the FETA program. The data entry requirements for these are described below:
Question 3 – MILK TYPE
Enter this data into the MILK_FOOD column in the data entry template.
Use the table below to determine the appropriate food code to enter for each of the tick boxes:
| Milk type | Food code |
|---|---|
| Full cream | 12012 |
| Skimmed | 12001 |
| Dried milk | 12001 |
| Semi skimmed | 12008 |
| Channel islands | 12018 |
| Soya | 12042 |
| None | -1 |
| Other- with free text | map free text to assign food code* |
| Other- with no free text | a2002 |
*Where free text is entered, select the code that best fits from the milk look-up list. The non-specific milk code a2002 can be assigned if a combination of milks is given or the text is uninformative.
The program will only process one type of milk, so do not enter more than one milk code. For missing data leave the cell blank rather than entering -9 for this column.
Question 4 – MILK QUANTITY
Enter this data into the MILK_FREQUENCY column in the data entry template.
Use the table below to determine the appropriate code to enter for each of the tick boxes:
| Quantity consumed | Data entry code |
|---|---|
| None | 1 |
| Quarter of a pint | 2 |
| Half a pint | 3 |
| Three quarters of a pint | 4 |
| One pint | 5 |
| More than one pint | 6 |
Enter -9 if no box is ticked.
If an individual records a quantity of milk consumed in question 4, but has not specified a type in question 3, a default milk code (a2002) is assigned to question 3 by the program.
Question 5 – CEREAL TYPE(S)
The first part of this question (Do you usually eat breakfast?) is not processed by the FETA software but can be entered as EAT_BREAKFAST in the full FFQ template (yes=1, no=2, -9 if neither of the boxes are ticked).
In the second part of the question the cereal type is processed by FETA. The text entered in cereal type must be translated into food code(s) using the cereal look-up list. Enter this data into the CEREAL_FOOD column in the data entry template. You can list up to four food codes, separated by a semi-colon (e.g. 11130;11148). The brand information does not need to be coded, this is not used by the program and will not alter the cereal code assigned.
The non-specific cereal code (a1362) should be used where the information provided can not be assigned a specific cereal code.
There is no cereal code provided for porridge in the look-up list, porridge is dealt with in line 23 of the main grid, not line 24, and therefore should not be listed in question 5. If porridge is mentioned in this question, please ignore it.
Question 6 – FAT (frying, roasting, grilling)
Enter this data into the FAT_FRYING_FOOD column in the data entry template.
Use the table below to determine the appropriate food code to enter for each of the tick boxes:
| Type of frying fat used | Food code |
|---|---|
| Butter | 17013 |
| Lard/dripping | 17010 |
| Vegetable oil- with free text | map free text to assign food code* |
| Vegetable oil- with no free text | 17046 |
| Solid vegetable fat | a7021 |
| Margarine | 17020 |
| None- with free text | map free text to assign food code* |
| None- with no free text | 17046 |
*Where free text is entered, select the code that best fits from the fats look up list. The default fat code 17046 can be assigned if a combination of fats are selected or the text is uninformative.
The program will only process one type of frying fat, so do not enter more than one frying fat code.
A number of EPIC-Norfolk participants ticked the ‘none’ box for frying fats. It was decided that it was likely that fat was used but that the type was unknown. Therefore, if the ‘none’ box is ticked the default fat for frying (17046) is used in the absence of free text.
Question 7 – FAT (baking)
Enter this data into the FAT_BAKING_FOOD column in the data entry template.
Use the table below to determine the appropriate food code to enter for each of the tick boxes:
| Type of baking fat used | Food code |
|---|---|
| Butter | 17013 |
| Lard/dripping | 17010 |
| Vegetable oil | 17046 |
| Solid vegetable fat | a7021 |
| Margarine- with free text | map free text to assign food code* |
| Margarine- with no free text | 17018 |
| None- with free text | map free text to assign food code* |
| None- with no free text | 17018 |
*Where free text is entered, select the code that best fits from the fats look up list. The default fat code 17018 can be assigned if a combination of fats are selected or the text is uninformative.
The program will only process one type of baking fat, so do not enter more than one baking fat code.
A number of EPIC-Norfolk participants ticked the ‘none’ box for baking fats. It was decided that it was likely fat was used but that the type was unknown. Therefore, if the ‘none’ box is ticked the default fat for baking (17018) is used in the absence of free text.
Question 10 – VISIBLE FAT
This question asks about the consumption of visible fat on meat (beef, pork, lamb, bacon and ham). It links back to lines 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 in part 1 of the questionnaire, where each meat item consists of a portion of lean meat and a portion of separable fat. The program applies 100% of the separable fat amount if all fat is eaten, 50% for some fat eaten and 0% if ‘ate as little fat as possible’ or ‘did not eat meat’ were chosen.
Enter this data into the VISIBLE_FAT column in the data entry template.
| Amount of visible fat eaten | Data entry code |
|---|---|
| Most | 1 |
| Some | 2 |
| As little as possible | 3 |
| Did not eat meat | 4 |