Standardized Method for Estimating Intakes of Processed Red Meat and Processed Poultry

On this page...

• Description
• Development
• Use
• Analysis Files
• Questions

Description

What is the Processed Meat Categories method?

The Processed Meat Categories method is a SAS program that offers researchers a standardized method of estimating various red meat and poultry categories. The program systematically disaggregates the processed meat component of the Food Patterns Equivalents Database (FPED) into processed red meat and processed poultry based on the information available in the databases from the USDA’s Food Surveys Research Group. These two new variables can be combined with existing FPED variables to create other novel red meat and poultry FPED-aligned variables (see Figure [PDF - 187 KB]).

View Red Meat and Poultry FPED Variables [PDF - 187 KB]

Development

How was the Processed Meat Categories method developed?

Researchers at NCI created the Processed Meat Categories SAS program to standardize the methodology for estimating more granular meat intake subcategories, i.e., processed red meat and processed poultry. In brief, two researchers independently disaggregated the processed meat component from the USDA’s FPED into processed red meat and processed poultry categories based on descriptive information available via the USDA’s Food Surveys Research Groups’ databases. The NCI researchers created a SAS program to mimic the manual coding which text-mines the food code descriptions, ingredients lists, and What We Eat in America Categories. Please see the publication below for more information on development, validation, and application of the Processed Meat Categories SAS program.

O'Connor LE, Wambogo EA, Herrick KA, Parsons R, Reedy J. A Standardized Assessment of Processed Red Meat and Processed Poultry Intake in the US Population Aged ≥2 Years Using NHANES. J Nutr. 2022 Jan 11;152(1):190-199. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxab316.

Use

How can the Processed Meat Categories method be used?

Researchers can use the Processed Meat Categories SAS program with any dataset that links to the USDA’s dietary databases, including the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) or studies that use NCI’s Automated Self-Administered 24-hour (ASA24) Dietary Assessment Tool to collect dietary information via recalls or records. Therefore, researchers can use the Processed Meat Categories SAS program to estimate intakes of novel meat and poultry categories (see Figure [PDF - 187 KB]) for national surveillance, food pattern modeling, risk assessment, or in development of guidance and policy. This method is also used to update NCI’s Cancer Trends Progress Report about red meat intake in the US.

Analysis Files

Below you will find the codebook and SAS code for use in NHANES cycles 07-08 to 17-18. Also below is a dataset that can be merged into ASA24 data output.

• Codebook [PDF - 118 KB]
• NHANES Day 1 [ZIP - 9.29 KB]
• NHANES Day 2 [ZIP - 6.78 KB]
• ASA24 [ZIP - 5.15 KB]

Questions?

Please contact the Risk Factor Assessment Branch at RFAB@mail.nih.gov.