Wheat Consumption Patterns in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The wheat flour consumption pattern in Sri Lanka has been studied by (i) including questions on wheat flour purchases and the consumption of wheat-based foods in the Third National Nutrition and Health Survey, carried out between October 1994 and January 1995 by ihe Ministry of Policy Planning, Ethnic Affairs and National Integration; and (ii) by a recipe survey carried out in the dry, the coastal and the highland zones, represented by the Anuradhapura, Matara and Colombo, and the Nuwara Eliya Districts, respectively. The quantity of wheat flour purchased by a household during the previous month was noted. In addition a 24 hour dietary recall provided information on consumption of wheatbased foods. The recipe survey entailed rr-eighing the raw ingredients, total cooked .'.,-eight, total number of cooked units, as well as ::,e size and weight of one unit of each food. Jata was also obtained from manufacturers of ::-.cuits, cake and bread.