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Considers selenium and various aspects of its analysis. Looks at various factors relating to its measurement and underlines the need for elements such as sound experimental design and critical application of results to move analysis forward.

Discusses the problems associated with an inadequate dietary supply of iron in relation to the prevention of anaemia. Describes results of recent work examining the free radical generation hypothesis to explain epidemiological observations that high iron intakes are associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Further work is needed to derive the upper limits of dietary reference values. Attention is drawn to the difficulties in setting dietary reference values in the absence of information on bioavailability of whole diets.

Notes that, despite its abundance as an essential trace element in the body, relatively little is known about dietary copper requirements. Looks at factors such as copper metabolisms and minimum dieting requirements. Reports on studies funded by MAFF in this area.

Considers the role of selenium as an essential nutrient. Identifies its key function as being an essential component of a wider range of proteins. Looks at some of the problems related to selenium deficiency such as associations with increased incidence of cancer of heart disease. Reports falling selenium intakes in the UK over the last 15‐20 years and describes a supplementation trial based in Scotland.

There is a strong interest in the quality of children's diets as this can impact on current and future health. The aim of this paper is to review current and past literature on UK children's diets to evaluate the adequacy of nutrient intakes in comparison with recommendations, and to identify population groups that may be at particular risk of nutritional deficiencies.

A literature review was carried out to locate and summarise up‐to‐date published studies and reports which addressed dietary intakes of UK children, trends overtime and current dietary issues.

Although UK children's diets appear to have improved in recent years, intakes of several key nutrients remain below dietary recommendations. Iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc are especially low in some groups, whilst intakes of saturated fat and sugar exceed current targets. Thus, further improvements are needed. In the meantime, parents may consider giving children a daily multi‐vitamin to ensure that micronutrient recommendations are achieved. The lack of child‐specific targets for fibre, long‐chain omega‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCn3PUFA), vitamin D and fruit and vegetables portions makes it difficult to properly evaluate children's diets for these important dietary components.

Future studies should use consistent age ranges and methods of dietary assessment to enable better comparisons. Research is needed to underpin child‐specific dietary guidelines for LCn3PUFA, fibre and vitamin D.

This paper gives a concise, up‐to‐date overview of the current diet quality of UK children.

This paper aims to examine the effect of selected calcium salts on the colour, clarity and calcium content of fortified apple juice in extended storage.

Apple juice was fortified with calcium lactate, calcium lactate gluconate, or anhydrous calcium gluconate and was processed along with an unfortified control juice. The bottled product was stored at 3 and 18°C for 30 weeks, and was assessed for calcium ion concentration, colour and haze. Consumer acceptance of the juices was confirmed using sensory evaluation.

Anhydrous calcium gluconate and calcium lactate gluconate are easily dissolved in apple juice and are as acceptable to consumers as the unfortified control juice. All three calcium salts remain in solution in apple juice after 30 weeks of storage.

The paper shows that, unlike a number of commercially marketed, calcium‐fortified beverages, these calcium salts stayed in solution in apple juice during extended storage. The ease of dissolution of anhydrous calcium gluconate and calcium lactate gluconate make them excellent candidates for commercial processing; their incorporation should cause minimal disruption to existing apple juice production practices.

The purpose of this paper is to compare the content of nutrients and minerals in various cultivars of Cucurbita maxima.

This is preliminary study, so eight samples from each cultivar of pumpkin used in this study were obtained from local farms from Poland. The following pumpkin cultivars were used: Australian butter, Flat white boer, Garbo, Golden delicious, Golden nugget, Hokkaido, Solor and Zapallito de tronco. In pumpkins elements, dry matter, ash and crude protein were determined. All elements were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer. Content of dry matter, ash and crude protein according to AOAC methods.

The fruit of Cucurbita maxima, irrespective of cultivar, is a good means of supplementing the diet with highly beneficial fibre, and minerals such as potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulphur, silicon, iron and zinc. The pumpkins richest in minerals are those of the Australian butter cultivar (calcium, manganese, iron), Flat white boer (sodium, silicon, chromium, nickel), Hokkaido (potassium, phosphorus, zinc, chromium) and Solor (magnesium, sulphur, copper), while the Garbo, Golden Delicious and Zapallito de tronco cultivars had the lowest concentrations of minerals.

The results obtained indicate that depending on the consumer’s expectations, pumpkins of various cultivars can be a dietary component that corrects deficiencies in the diet. Pumpkins grown in Poland have been characterised in terms of the content of mineral elements. These vegetables have become an important component of local food in Poland.

Gives a brief overview of a national survey conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of the diets of 488 infants aged 6 to 12 months from Britain. Presents selected information on the amounts of foods eaten by older infants and the nutrients obtained from them, and explores the adequacy of the infants′ diet.

Tooth decay is a serious problem in young children. In the UK nearly half of all five‐year‐olds have decayed, missing or filled teeth. Non‐milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) provide young children with about 19 per cent of their food energy, almost double the recommended amount. One of the main sources of NMES is non‐diet soft drinks such as fruit squashes and carbonated beverages. Dental experts recommend that sugary food and drinks should be limited to meal times and that non‐cariogenic drinks such as milk and water should be consumed between meals. However, milk does not just benefit young children’s teeth; unlike soft drinks, it also plays a pivotal role in ensuring that young children consume a nutritionally adequate diet. Children aged 3 and a half ‐4 and a half years obtain at least one‐fifth of their total intake of protein, vitamin A, riboflavin, vitamin B₁₂, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and iodine from milk. The only nutrient that is supplied to a greater extent from other beverages is vitamin C.

The article discusses mineral bioavailability and the process of absorption in humans. It explains the necessity for obtaining accurate data from human studies in order to make dietary intake recommendations for specific population groups. The importance of iron, selenium and copper is discussed, together with methods for determining absorption. In particular, the use of stable and radioisotope methodologies is discussed.