This survey report signals the end of a period of fieldwork, pilot testing, data collection, data cleaning, entry and analysis, interpretation of findings, and report compilation for the Barbados Food Consumption Survey (BFCS) 2000. This process finished with the organization of a workshop at which the results were presented. This initiative was stimulated by the Ministries of Health and Agriculture and Rural Development requesting the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for financial and technical assistance in conducting a food consumption and anthropometric survey in Barbados. In view of the emerging epidemic of obesity and related chronic diseases in the Caribbean region, FAO gave careful consideration to this request and agreed to prepare a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project document that would provide the necessary assistance for carrying out such a survey. Project activities commenced in June 1999 as project TCP/BAR/8922 (Household Food Consumption and Anthropometric Survey). The project report was finalized and presented at a national seminar from 10 to 11 March 2003, as part of the Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Information and Mapping Systems' (FIVIMS) efforts in the Caribbean region. The National Nutrition Centre (NNC), a Department of the Ministry of Health, was designated the government counterpart institution working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, particularly the Economic Planning Division, which played a central role in acquiring support from FAO. Special thanks are extended to Mr Winston Rudder, FAO's Sub-Regional Representative, and to his predecessor Mr Joseph Johnson, for their support.
The Ministry of Health extends special thanks to The Survey Planning Committee, consisting of: Dr Frederick Baker, FAO; Mr DeCourcey Eversley, Barbados Statistical Services; Professor Henry Fraser, Director of the Chronic Disease and Research Centre; Dr Joy St. John, Senior Medical Officer of Health, and Dr Elizabeth Ferdinand, whom she replaced; Mrs. Carmen Dardano, FAO; and Mrs Elaine Yarde and Mrs Joan Sealy, NNC.
Several government departments, ministries, private sector individuals and organizations and regional and international organizations contributed to the production of this document. Special mention is due to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, particularly the Economic Planning Division, for its assistance in acquiring technical and funding support from FAO, as well as to the administrative and technical staff and Director of the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute (CFNI), the occupants of the 1 051 survey households and the 1 704 survey respondents.
The technical assistance of consultants and staff of regional and international organizations is also acknowledged. These included: Mrs Beverley Lawrence, Food Policy Analyst, and Mrs Pauline Johnson and Miss Paula Trotter, CFNI, for training and/or review of survey results; Mr Armando Rodriguez, FAO Consultant, particularly for use of the CERES software package for analysing the dietary intake data; Dr Frederick Baker, FAO, for analysing the household data; Dr Suraiya Ismail, FIVIMS/FAO Consultant, for preparing the results for presentation, compiling the final report and presenting the findings at the workshop, with assistance from NNC staff; and Ms Melinda Mills, FAO Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean (FAOSLAC), whose valuable logistical support and follow-up helped facilitate the report's finalization. The technical and logistical support of Dr Robert Weisell, FAO (Rome), including his presentation at the workshop, is also greatly appreciated. Thanks are also extended to Miss Claire Forrester, Pan-American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), specifically for her input as a resource person at the workshop.
The Ministry of Health thanks all sponsors, consultants, individual professionals and all those who participated in this capacity building project, which provides scientific data on food, nutrition and the health of the Barbadian population
