Abstract Total diet studies represent a suitable tool for monitoring dietary intakes of nutrients, other food constituents and contaminants for large groups of population or at national level. In Italy, the Istituto Nazionale della Nutrizione (INN) carried out two studies using the market basket approach for the formulation and evaluation of the total diet. The studies were based on the data collected in the nation-wide food consumption surveys in 1980–1984 and 1994–1996, respectively. The approach and the results of the former are discussed in detail to render available all elements for comparison with the results from the latter. Some future methodological developments are indicated in order to plan further analyses and to improve this type of study.