We would like to submit the following corrections to our recently published paper [1] because a coding error was identified in Statistic Canada’s assignment of vegetable subgroup categories for 21 vegetables in the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) data files. Specifically, vegetables classified as dark green and orange using the 2007 Canada’s Food Guide classifications (e.g., asparagus, snow peas, peas, and carrots) were coded as “non-dark green and orange” in the 2004 CCHS dataset, but correctly coded as “dark green and orange” in the 2015 CCHS dataset. Since this paper assessed changes in intake in dark green and orange vegetables between 2004 and 2015 (and, therefore, requires consistent coding across years to generate valid estimates of difference), we recalculated the difference over time after manually recoding the 2004 items to match the definitions and coding used in the 2015 data files.
In the original paper, we reported that Canadians (2 years and older) had reportedly increased, on average, their amount of dark green and orange vegetables consumed by 0.1 servings daily from 2004 to 2015. Instead, the corrected results suggest that Canadians decreased their average daily servings of dark green and orange vegetables by 0.1 servings daily. The revised coding also impacted the difference estimated over time in the intake of non-dark green and orange vegetables (i.e., “other” vegetables). In the original paper, we reported that Canadians (ages 2 years and older) decreased their daily intake of other vegetables by 0.4 servings daily. The corrected results suggest that Canadians decreased average intake of other vegetables by only 0.2 servings per day. No other coding errors were found among other food groups or subgroups examined in this paper. In the following text, we provide updated results and text using the more appropriate coding for dark green and orange vegetables.
Abstract: The sentence that stated “Analyses of food subgroups revealed that Canadians reported consuming more daily servings of dark green and orange vegetables […] in 2015 compared to 2004” should state that “Analyses of food subgroups revealed that Canadians reported consuming more daily servings of dairy products, legumes, nuts and seeds, and eggs but fewer servings of potatoes, vegetables (dark green and orange and “other” vegetables), fruit juices, fluid milk, and sugar-sweetened beverages in 2015 compared to 2004.”
Results:
Vegetables and Fruit
On page 8 of the original paper, the sentence: “In 2004, the largest contributor to total vegetables and fruit were “other” vegetables (i.e., non-dark green and orange vegetables such as cucumbers, tomatoes, celery, corn), which represented ~33% of total daily servings of vegetables and fruit” should state: “In 2004, the largest contributor to total vegetables and fruit were “other” vegetables […], which represented ~29% of total daily servings of vegetables and fruit”.
The revised values for total vegetable and fruit and vegetable and fruit subgroups are shown below in Table 1. The corrected mean amounts of dark green and orange vegetables and “other” vegetables for 2004 and 2015, as well as the corrected mean difference over time are highlighted in bold. Revisions did not impact the difference in total vegetables and fruit servings over time. There were no other changes in other food groups or subgroups (grain products, milk and alternatives, and meat and alternatives).
Table 1.
Difference in covariate-adjusted mean daily amounts of vegetable and fruit reported between 2004 and 2015 among Canadians ≥2 years old (all energy reporters and only plausible energy reporters).
In the original paper on page 8, we stated that the magnitude of the reduction in some categories of vegetables and fruit varied by age groups (e.g., “other” vegetables, whole fruit, and fruit juices (among all energy reporters)). After correcting for the coding errors, the magnitude of difference in the daily amount of dark green and orange vegetables also varied by age group. Specifically, children aged 6–12 years (all energy reporters only) and adults and older adults (both for the full sample and among plausible respondents) reported significantly fewer average daily servings of dark green and orange vegetables in 2015 compared to 2004, whereas young children and adolescents reported no differences over time.
Relative Percent Change in Food and Beverages Intake from 2004 to 2015
The coding errors affected the relative percent changes estimated for dark green and orange vegetables and other vegetables reported by Canadians from 2004 to 2015, discussed on page 18 in the original paper. The revised Figure 1 is shown below. Revised findings suggest that Canadians aged 2 years and older reported consuming at least 15% fewer dark green and orange vegetables from 2004 to 2015. Over the same time period, Canadians reported consuming 8% and 13% fewer “other” vegetables, among plausible reporters and among all energy reporters, respectively.
Figure 1.
Relative percent (%) change in the mean daily intakes of foods among Canadians age 2 years and older1 between 2004 and 2015. From 2004 to 2015, Canadians reported consuming, on average, approximately 15 and 17% fewer dark green and orange vegetables among plausible reporters and among all energy reporters, respectively. Over the same time period, Canadians reported consuming 8% and 13% fewer “other” vegetables among plausible reporters and among all energy reporters, respectively. Average intake from alcohol-containing beverages estimated for respondents aged 13 years and older only.
Discussion
In the third paragraph, the Discussion should read as follows: “Still, the average consumption of many healthful dietary components emphasized in the 2007 CFG (dark green and orange vegetables, whole fruit, whole grains, fish, and shellfish) did not increase over time.”
The first line of the fifth paragraph should now read as follows: “Apart from whole fruit, which did not change over time, the estimated average daily intakes of dark green and orange vegetables, “other” vegetables, potatoes, and fruit juice all decreased from 2004 to 2015.”
Finally, the last paragraph of the Discussion should read as follows: “However, in sensitivity analyses that only included plausible energy reporters (all age groups combined), the direction and significance of the temporal change for most food/beverage subgroups (20 out of 22) were consistent with differences found for the full sample.”
Conclusions
This first two sentences of the Conclusion paragraph should now read: “Small improvements in average food and beverage intakes of Canadians were reported between 2004 to 2015, particularly in terms of a reduction in average daily energy intake from high-calorie beverages and increased intakes of nutritious foods such as legumes, nuts, and seeds. However, this study suggests that the daily average intake of many other nutritious foods has either stagnated (e.g., whole fruit, fish/shellfish, whole grains) or declined (e.g., dark green and orange vegetables and fluid milk) over time.”
The authors apologize to the readers for any inconvenience caused by this modification. The original manuscript will remain online on the article webpage with a reference to this correction.
References
- Tugault-Lafleur, C.N.; Black, J.L. Differences in the quantity and types of foods and beverages consumed by Canadians between 2004 and 2015. Nutrients 2019, 11, 526. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
- Institute of Medicine. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, Carbohydrate, Fiber, Fat, Fatty Acids, Cholesterol, Protein and Amino Acids; National Academy Press: Washington, DC, USA, 2005. [Google Scholar]
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