Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
Scientists have found that DNA from foods consumed can be detected in community wastewater, providing insights into dietary patterns. This approach may offer a more cost-effective and timely alternative to traditional food diaries and surveys, which are often slow, expensive, and reliant on memory.
An NIH-funded research team analyzed 183 wastewater samples from 21 treatment plants in North Carolina, serving over 2 million people. The analysis identified DNA from hundreds of different foods at a cost of less than one cent per person.
The results revealed distinctive dietary trends, such as increased detection of certain fruits and vegetables during their growing seasons. The study also found that wealthier communities and those with more foreign-born residents consumed more tropical fruits and legumes. In addition, coastal communities showed higher consumption of locally caught fish, while inland cities preferred farmed fish.
According to Dr. Lawrence David of Duke University, co-lead of the study, poor diet significantly contributes to chronic disease. The research may help better connect dietary data with health outcomes by providing a more efficient way to measure community eating habits.