The relationship between diet and socio-economic status has rarely been examined in children and adolescents in France. The expert assessment conducted by ANSES on this topic shows that the diet of underprivileged children and adolescents is of a lower quality. However, the parents' education level appears to be a more significant determining factor in diet quality than income criteria.

The role of food in the increased risk of certain diseases, such as cancer, obesity or cardiovascular disorders, and in their prevention, has now been established scientifically. To improve prevention of these diseases and the general health of the French population, it is essential to fully document the foods people eat and their nutritional status. To this end, ANSES carries out an Individual and national study on food consumption (INCA study) every seven years, sponsored by the Ministries of Health and Agriculture.