[Feasibility survey on the reliability of questionning on past eating habits in a group of men (author's transl)].

Among men 50-57 years old surveyed in 1969 and again in 1974 on their food intake, both questionaires of 37 who stated in 1974 that they had changed their eating habits in the preceding 5 years were selected for analysis. The mean reported caloric intake had dropped very significantly, but about 500 calories. When these persons were questioned in 1974 on their 1969 food consumption, the results compared to the 1969 questionary were identical for almost all food catergories and for total calories. Thus, a food consumption survey retrospective over a 5 years span appears no less reliable than a survey on present eating habits.