Today, the Department of Health published the combined results from the first two years of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) rolling programme (2008/09 -2009/10). The NDNS is a continuous cross-sectional survey, designed to assess the diet, nutrient intake and nutritional status of the general population aged 18 months upwards living in private households in the UK. The NDNS involves an interview, a four-day dietary diary and blood and urine samples. Results are used by government to develop policy and monitor progress on diet and nutrition and to assess whether the UK population is meeting expert recommendations on particular nutrients.

The NDNS is jointly funded by the Department of Health in England and the UK Food Standards Agency and carried out by a consortium of three organisations: National Centre for Social Research (NatCen) MRC Human Nutrition Research (HNR) and the University College London Medical School (UCL).

Key findings

The findings show that the overall picture of the diet and nutrition of the UK population is broadly similar to previous surveys in the NDNS series carried out between 1994 and 2001. The analyses presented in this report do not identify any new nutritional problems in the general population.

- Fruit and vegetables: Adults (aged 19 to 64 years) consumed on average, 4.2 portions per day and older adults (aged 65 years and over) consumed 4.4 portions. Thirty per cent of adults and 37 per cent of older adults met the 'five-a-day' recommendation

- Boys aged 11-18 years, consumed on average 3.1 portions per day and 13 per cent met the 'five a day' recommendation. Girls in the same age group consumed 2.7 portions per day and 7 per cent met the recommendation.

- Saturated fat: Mean intake for all age groups exceeded the recommended level of no more than 11 per cent of food energy. The mean intake for adults aged 19 to 64 years was 12.8 per cent of food energy

- Trans fat: Mean intakes provided 0.7-0.9 per cent of food energy for all age groups, which was within the recommendation of no more than 2 per cent food energy

- Non-Milk Extrinsic Sugars (NMES) (added sugar and sugar released from food during processing): Mean intakes exceeded the recommendation of no more than 11 per cent of food energy for children aged 4 to 18 years and adults aged 19 to 64 years

- Alcohol: 61 per cent of adults (aged 19-64) and 53 per cent of older adults (aged 65 years and over) consumed alcohol during the four-day diary. Adults who had consumed alcohol obtained 9 per cent of energy intake from alcohol in the 19 to 64 age group and 6 per cent in the 65 years and over group.

The full statistical release, including a summary, can be found at the following URL: see here.

Notes

1. The NDNS rolling programme has been commissioned to collect data over a four year period from 2008/09 to 2011/12. Prior to the rolling programme the NDNS comprised a series of cross-sectional surveys, each covering a different age group. The earlier programme was set up in the early 1990s and ended in 2000/01.

2. The report published today covers a range of topics including food consumption, intakes of energy, macronutrients and vitamins and minerals and use of dietary supplements. The report also includes the heights, weights, blood pressure and socio-demographic characteristics of the participants. Results are presented for five age groups: 1½-3 years; 4-10 years; 11-18 years; 19-64 years; 65 years and over, split by sex in all except the youngest age group. Some comparisons with the previous NDNS surveys have been included as indicators of possible differences. Note: Further data will be reported later including the blood and urine analysis.

3. This report supersedes the report of the year 1 results published in 2010 by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) -see here. The statements made in the year 1 report are generally supported and reinforced by the larger sample size of the combined data from years 1 and 2.

4. Responsibility for nutrition policy in England and Wales transferred from FSA to Health Departments in 2010. Management of NDNS also transferred to the Department of Health in England at that time.

5. The Government recommends an intake of at least five portions of fruit or vegetables per person per day. The Health Survey for England (HSE) is used to monitor 'five-a-day' in England. HSE estimates of fruit and vegetable consumption are based on a recall of consumption over the previous 24 hours and are therefore different from NDNS estimates, which are based on a four-day diary. NDNS estimates are higher than HSE, at least in part, because NDNS captures the contribution from composite dishes containing fruit and vegetables.

6. The dietary recommendations or Dietary Reference Values are reported in Dietary Reference Values (DRVs) for Food Energy and Nutrients for the UK, Report of the Panel on DRVs of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy (COMA) 1991. The Stationery Office. London

7. Saturated fat is the kind of fat found in animal foods such as butter and lard, fatty cuts of meat, sausages and bacon, cheese and cream and foods containing them such as pies, cakes and biscuits. Consuming high levels of saturated fat can lead to raised blood cholesterol levels, which are associated with greater risk of developing heart disease.

8. Trans fats are formed when liquid vegetable oils are turned into solid or semi-solid fats through a process of hydrogenation. The main sources of trans fats in the diet are from partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVOs), dairy and meat from ruminant animals. Hydrogenated Vegetable Oils can be used as ingredients in products such as biscuits, cakes and desserts and are also used as cooking and ingredient oils. Naturally occurring trans fats are found in dairy produce and the flesh of ruminant animals e.g. beef and lamb. Trans fats raise the levels of the type of cholesterol in the blood which may increase the risk of heart disease.

9. Non-Milk Extrinsic Sugars (NMES) are any sugars which are not contained within the cellular structure of the food, either because they have been added to a food in the form of table sugar, honey etc; or because the food has been processed which has released (otherwise intrinsic) sugars from the cell structure e.g. fruit juice. Intakes of NMES are of interest as they are tooth decay.

10. The recommended daily alcohol limits are no more than three to four units a day for men and no more than two to three units a day for women - see here. There is not a recommended maximum percentage of energy from alcohol.

Source:
Department of Health, UK