The "apports nutritionnels conseillés (ANC)" for the French population.

The apports nutritionnels conseillés (ANC) for the French population are the reference which are used in France to assess the nutritional status of the population. These references have been elaborated by a transparent and collective expert process, conferring on them an official reference. The originality of the French method was to add to the classical analysis of each nutrient an analysis concerning both a global approach to specific groups (children, pregnant women, elderly people, sportsmen) and the links between nutrients and foods. Many original works, which have been specifically performed for this revision, highlight the absolute need for rigorous evaluation of food consumption patterns and for valuable food composition tables.