Abstract
Accuracy of dietary assessment depends on correct estimation of quantity as well as correct data on composition of the products. Milk and soymilk were considered quite homogeneous in items of package size and composition. One serving size of fluid milk and soymilk is considered 200 mL but there are products with different amounts on the market. This study was conducted to investigate variations of amounts and composition of fluid milk and soymilk products of one portion siz on Korean market. Twenty-nine milk products were purchased and categorized into 8 groups-regular, low-fat, skim, chocolate, strawberry-flavored, banana-flavored, and black soybean-added. Sixteen fluid soymilk products were purchased and categorized into 4 groups-regular, infant, black sesame or black soybean added and others. Actual volume of each product was measured by mass cylinder and compositions of major nutrients on the package were compared to the values in the most widely used nutrient DB in Korea. Amounts of milk specified on the package of purchased products were 182.3-318.5 ml, the largest being banana-flavored milk. Amounts of soy milk were 184.3-240.5 mL, the largest being regular soymilk. Measured amount of each products were close to the amount on the package (<5%). Contents of macronutrients on the package were different from the food composition table in several products. The amounts of calcium varied greatly among the products due to the popularity of adding calcium to milk and soymilk products recently. These variations in the amount and contents of major nutrients in milk and soymilk products can lead to considerable error to the results of dietary assessment unless the amount and the composition of each product are regularly updated in the food composition table whenever the new products are introduced in the market.
