Glycaemic index of potatoes: myth and reality from a European perspective.

Traditionally, potatoes are a central component of warm meals in many European countries (Wandel et al. 2001; FAO, 2004). In an analysis from the EPIC study (n 13 031 men and 22 924 women) including data from ten European countries (Greece, Spain, Italy, France, Germany, The Netherlands, UK, Denmark, Sweden and Norway), potatoes contributed on average 7 % to the total carbohydrates consumed, but these data (Wirfalt et al. 2002), as well as data from the FAO (2004) show a clear north–south divide in potato consumption. Over the past 40 years, changes in lifestyle and requirements for convenience, accompanied by an increased consumption of pasta and rice, have led to a considerable decrease in potato consumption in most Northern and Central European countries (decrease of 30–45 % from 1961 to 2002; FAO, 2004). However, high annual intakes above 80 kg per capita are maintained even today in the Baltic countries, Poland, The Netherlands, Ireland and the UK (FAO, 2004).