WIREDGOV

The findings of a UK dietary survey, published by the Food Standards Agency, suggest that the nation is eating less saturated fat, trans fat and added sugar than it was 10 years ago. The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) is the first comprehensive survey of people’s eating patterns since 2001, when the survey was last carried out.

Saturated fat intakes in adults have dropped slightly to 12.8% of food energy, but are still above the recommended level of 11%. Whereas, the population’s trans fat intakes, having also fallen slightly, are well within recommended levels. The survey also found that more than a third of men and women are now meeting the recommendation to eat ‘5-a-day’ fruit and veg.

Despite these encouraging indications, people are, according to the NDNS, still eating too much added sugar (currently 12.5% of food energy intake compared to the recommended 11%) and not eating enough fibre, which is essential for healthy digestion.

Gill Fine, Director of Consumer Choice and Dietary Health at the Agency, said: ‘Good nutrition is important for health, and poor diet accounts for a large percentage of premature deaths. We now need to build on the indications of positive change we have observed in this survey. By continuing our programme of campaign work and encouraging product reformulation in key areas, such as saturated fat, we will hopefully observe further improvements over the next few years.’

The NDNS, commissioned by the FSA, with a contribution to funding from the Department of Health, provides representative data on the dietary habits and nutritional status of the UK population. Carried out by a consortium of organisations, it provides a continuous survey of food consumption, nutrient intakes and nutritional status of people in the UK aged 18 months and older.