Association of Lunch Meat Consumption and Diet Quality in U.S. Children and Adults: NHANES 2007‐2010

The association of lunch meat consumption with diet quality [Healthy Eating Index‐2010 (HEI)] was examined in children (2‐18 yrs; n=5,099) and adults (19+ yrs; n=10,216) using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007‐2010. Lunch meat consumers (children n=920; adults n=1,833) were defined as those consuming any amount of 39 lunch meat food codes during the 24 h recall. ANOVA was performed and adjusted means ± standard errors determined (covariates: age, gender ethnicity, poverty income ratio, physical activity level, smoking status, and alcohol intake) using sample weights setting p<0.01 as significant. There was no difference in total HEI comparing lunch meat consumers and non‐consumers in children (45.7 ± 0.6 vs. 46.0 ± 0.4) or adults (48.8 ± 0.5 vs. 49.4 ± 0.4). In children, the HEI subcomponents scores for total fruit (0.3), whole fruit (0.4), whole grains (0.6), dairy (0.6), and total protein foods (0.7) were higher in lunch meat consumers while subcomponent scores for seafood and plant protein (‐0.4), fatty acid ratio (‐0.7) and sodium (‐2.0) were lower than non‐consumers. In adults, the subcomponents scores for total fruit (0.2), whole grains (0.7), dairy (0.8), and total protein foods (0.4) were higher in lunch meat consumers while subcomponent scores for greens and beans (‐0.2), seafood and plant protein (‐0.4), fatty acid ratio (‐0.6) and sodium (‐1.8) were lower than non‐consumers. While total HEI scores were not different among consumers and non‐consumers of lunch meat, the changes in subcomponent scores may provide information for improved incorporation of lunch meats in diets of U.S. children and adults. Support provided by the North American Meat Institute.