This paper gives a brief overview of market basket and duplicate portion studies carried out in Sweden during the last decades. Most of the studies have included mineral elements with an emphasis on the assessment of the dietary exposure of toxic elements such as lead and cadmium. In connection with the Chernobyl accident in 1986 the dietary exposure of radiocesium was assessed using both market basket and duplicate portion studies, some of which was repeated in the mid-1990s. Other contaminants studied include organic pollutants such as dioxins and PCBs. For most non-nutrients these studies are the only sources of intake estimates and are thus invaluable for risk evaluation. Results for essential minerals provide additional information on dietary intakes and are also valuable for evaluation of the data obtained from traditional dietary surveys.