Following a request from the European Commission for a review of European dietary reference values (DRVs), the EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) has prepared a number of Scientific Opinions on DRVs for micronutrients. The DATA Unit supported this activity by estimating the nutrient intake of a number of micronutrients in nine selected European countries and different age groups. In addition, the DATA Unit also provided information on average content of food sources of the respective nutrients per country based on the composition database, as well as main food group contributors to nutrient intakes and assessed the comparability of the provided data with pertinent published intake data.

Intake estimates have been assessed using food consumption data from the EFSA Comprehensive Food Consumption Database (EFSA, 2011a) and the EFSA Nutrient composition database. Food composition data used to populate the Nutrient composition database were provided to EFSA through the EFSA procurement project ‘Updated food composition database for nutrient intake’ (Roe at al., 2013). Data were provided following the EFSA specification for standard sample description for food and feed and were classified according to the FoodEx2 classification system of EFSA (EFSA, 2011b).

The food composition data used in these assessments and here published cover the following vitamins and minerals: calcium (Ca); copper (Cu); cobalamin (vitamin B12); magnesium (Mg); niacin; phosphorus (P); potassium (K); riboflavin; thiamin; iron (Fe); selenium (Se); vitamin B6; vitamin K, zinc (Zn), and vitamin E1. The food composition dataset contains data from seven2 countries: Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, and United Kingdom. This dataset version has been checked for outliers but is prior to data completion for missing foods and nutrient values.

1 Vitamin E is defined as alpha-tocopherol (AT) only, however as most food composition databases in the EU contain values as alpha-tocopherol equivalents (TE), data on TE are also provided

2 For the nutrient intake estimates of Ireland and Latvia present in the opinions of the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), food composition data from UK and Germany were respectively used

Analysis of ‘Food composition database for nutrient intake: selected vitamins and minerals in selected European countries’ provided by Analyst-2 (analyst-2.ai), based on source dataset retrieved from http://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/food-composition-database on 07 January 2022.

--- Dataset description provided by original source is as follows ---

Following a request from the European Commission for a review of European dietary reference values (DRVs), the EFSA’s Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA) has prepared a number of Scientific Opinions on DRVs for micronutrients. The DATA Unit supported this activity by estimating the nutrient intake of a number of micronutrients in nine selected European countries and different age groups. In addition, the DATA Unit also provided information on average content of food sources of the respective nutrients per country based on the composition database, as well as main food group contributors to nutrient intakes and assessed the comparability of the provided data with pertinent published intake data.

Intake estimates have been assessed using food consumption data from the EFSA Comprehensive Food Consumption Database (EFSA, 2011a) and the EFSA Nutrient composition database. Food composition data used to populate the Nutrient composition database were provided to EFSA through the EFSA procurement project ‘Updated food composition database for nutrient intake’ (Roe at al., 2013). Data were provided following the EFSA specification for standard sample description for food and feed and were classified according to the FoodEx2 classification system of EFSA (EFSA, 2011b).

The food composition data used in these assessments and here published cover the following vitamins and minerals: calcium (Ca); copper (Cu); cobalamin (vitamin B12); magnesium (Mg); niacin; phosphorus (P); potassium (K); riboflavin; thiamin; iron (Fe); selenium (Se); vitamin B6; vitamin K, zinc (Zn), and vitamin E(1). The food composition dataset contains data from seven(2) countries: Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, and United Kingdom. This dataset version has been checked for outliers but is prior to data completion for missing foods and nutrient values.

(1) Vitamin E is defined as alpha-tocopherol (AT) only, however as most food composition databases in the EU contain values as alpha-tocopherol equivalents (TE), data on TE are also provided

(2) For the nutrient intake estimates of Ireland and Latvia present in the opinions of the EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA), food composition data from UK and Germany were respectively used

--- Original source retains full ownership of the source dataset ---

Nutrition security describes the adequacy of the food supply to meet not only energy but also macronutrient and micronutrient requirements for the population. The aim of this study was to develop a method to assess trends in national nutrition security and the contribution of imports to nutrition security, using the UK as a case study. Food supply data from FAO food balance sheets and national food composition tables were used to estimate the nutrient content of domestically produced food, imported food and exported food. Nutrition security was defined as the total nutrient supply (domestic production, minus exports, plus imports) to meet population-level nutrient requirements. The results showed that the UK was nutrition secure over the period 1961–2011 for energy, macronutrients and key micronutrients, with the exception of total carbohydrates and fibre, which may be due to the loss of fibre incurred by processing cereals into refined products. The supply of protein exceeded population requirements and could be met with domestic production alone. Even excluding all meat there was sufficient protein for population requirements. The supply of total fat, saturated fat and sugar considerably exceeded the current dietary recommendation. As regards nutrition security in 2010, the UK was reliant on imported foods to meet energy, fibre, total carbohydrate, iron, zinc and vitamin A requirements. This analysis demonstrates the importance of including nutrients other than energy to determine the adequacy of the food supply. The methodology also provides an alternative perspective on food security and self-sufficiency by assessing the dependency on imports to meet population level nutritional requirements.

A survey conducted in 2020 revealed that 13 percent of those respondents 65 or older always stated that they check the ingredients of the food they buy all the time. Only a tenth of respondents from this age group said they never check the ingredients of food they buy.

A survey conducted in 2020 revealed that 17 percent of the female respondents in the United Kingdom (UK) always checked the ingredients when buying food, compared to 15 percent of their male counterparts. At 17 percent, both female and male respondents stated they never looked at the ingredients of the food they were buying.

A survey conducted in 2020 revealed that 23 percent of the respondents who lived on their own in the United Kingdom (UK) always checked the ingredients when buying food, compared to 15 percent of respondents who lived with two other people. A share of 18 percent of the respondents from households with five members stated they never looked at the ingredients of the food they were buying.

BackgroundThe global burden of non-communicable diseases partly reflects growing exposure to ultra-processed food products (UPPs). These heavily marketed UPPs are cheap and convenient for consumers and profitable for manufacturers, but contain high levels of salt, fat and sugars. This study aimed to explore the potential mortality reduction associated with future policies for substantially reducing ultra-processed food intake in the UK.Methods and FindingsWe obtained data from the UK Living Cost and Food Survey and from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey. By the NOVA food typology, all food items were categorized into three groups according to the extent of food processing: Group 1 describes unprocessed/minimally processed foods. Group 2 comprises processed culinary ingredients. Group 3 includes all processed or ultra-processed products. Using UK nutrient conversion tables, we estimated the energy and nutrient profile of each food group. We then used the IMPACT Food Policy model to estimate reductions in cardiovascular mortality from improved nutrient intakes reflecting shifts from processed or ultra-processed to unprocessed/minimally processed foods. We then conducted probabilistic sensitivity analyses using Monte Carlo simulation.ResultsApproximately 175,000 cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths might be expected in 2030 if current mortality patterns persist. However, halving the intake of Group 3 (processed) foods could result in approximately 22,055 fewer CVD related deaths in 2030 (minimum estimate 10,705, maximum estimate 34,625). An ideal scenario in which salt and fat intakes are reduced to the low levels observed in Group 1 and 2 could lead to approximately 14,235 (minimum estimate 6,680, maximum estimate 22,525) fewer coronary deaths and approximately 7,820 (minimum estimate 4,025, maximum estimate 12,100) fewer stroke deaths, comprising almost 13% mortality reduction.ConclusionsThis study shows a substantial potential for reducing the cardiovascular disease burden through a healthier food system. It highlights the crucial importance of implementing healthier UK food policies.

The UK Meal Replacement Products market is forecasted to reach USD 1,341.5 million in 2025, with strong momentum projected for the next decade. By 2035, the industry is expected to grow to USD 2,462.9 million, driven by rising health-conscious consumers, growing demand for weight management solutions, and increased interest in plant-based nutrition. The sector is anticipated to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% from 2025 to 2035.

Attributes	Values
Estimated UK Industry Size (2025)	USD 1,341.5 million
Projected UK Market Value (2035)	USD 2,462.9 million
Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035)	6.3%

Semi-Annual Market Update for the UK Meal Replacement Products Market

Year	2024
H1 Growth Rate (%)	7.0%
H2 Growth Rate (%)	6.6%

Year	2025
H1 Growth Rate (%)	7.0%
H2 Growth Rate (%)	6.0%

Analysis of UK Meal Replacement Categories by Segments

By Product Type	Market Share
Powder	40%
Remaining segments	60%

By Consumer Type	Market Share
Weight Management	48%
Remaining segments	52%

Market Concentration and Competitive Landscape in the UK Meal Replacement Products Ecosystem

Company	Market Share
Huel	22.0%
MyProtein (The Hut Group)	18.0%
SlimFast (Glanbia)	15.0%
Maximuscle (GSK)	12.0%
PhD Nutrition	8.0%
Other Players	25.0%

The Diet and Nutrition Survey of Infants and Young Children (DNSIYC) was commissioned by the Department of Health (DH) and Food Standards Agency (FSA). The programme was carried out by a consortium of four organisations: Medical Research Council (MRC) Human Nutrition Research, based in Cambridge, NatCen Social Research, based in London, MRC Epidemiology Unit, based in Cambridge and the Human Nutrition Research Centre at Newcastle University. Fieldwork in Northern Ireland was carried out by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).

The aims of the DNSIYC were to:

• provide detailed, quantitative information on the food and nutrient intakes, sources of nutrients, and nutritional status of a representative sample of infants and young children aged 4 to 18 months from the UK population, as a basis for developing government policy and measuring progress towards other government objectives
• provide detailed, quantitative information on breast milk and breast milk substitutes consumed
• describe the characteristics of participants with intakes and/or status of specific nutrients that are above and below national reference values, and evaluate the diet of this population compared to current national recommendations
• produce a database of food consumption to provide the basis for the calculation of likely dietary intakes of natural toxicants, contaminants, additives and other food chemicals for risk assessment
• provide length (height), weight and other body measurements and examine their relationship with dietary intake and status, and health and social factors
• examine the extent to which feeding practices adopted by carers differ from national policy for infant health
• provide some information on the dietary habits of the mother (and other key family members) and link this to the nutrient intakes and nutritional status of this population group
• carry out stable isotopically-labelled water assessment in sub-samples of the survey group in order to estimate breast milk intake and body composition in children consuming any breast milk, as well as fluid intake and body composition in non-breastfed children
• measure blood indices that give evidence of nutritional status and relate these to dietary, physiological and social data

This study can be used alongside data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (available from the UK Data Service under GN 33275), which covers adults and children of all ages from 18 months, to provide a fuller picture of the diet, health and food safety of the nation.

October 2013: temporary embargo ended and new edition released
For the second edition (October 2013), new versions of the day-level, food-level and person-level dietary data files were deposited. The person-level dietary file was corrected because food group values had been found to be totals from the first day, and not the mean value. It was also found that in some circumstances, water used to make up foods and formulas had not been assigned to the relevant food group (food or formula). This was corrected, which meant that the total consumption of the food groups ‘COMMERCIALTODDLERSFOODSWATER’ and ‘INFANTFORMULAWATER’ were then reduced to zero; these variables have therefore been removed from both the person-level file and the daily food groups file. The documentation variable listing has been amended accordingly. A single coding error that caused changes to the food, person-level and day-level foods has also been corrected. The user guide has also been updated.

Percentage self-sufficiency for energy and nutrients based on the supply from domestic production (minus exports) and the total supply of food in the UK in 2010 compared to population-level requirements.

UK Oral Clinical Nutrition Supplement sales will reach approximately USD 602.3 million by the end of 2025. Forecasts suggest the market will achieve a 6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and exceed USD 1,082.4 million in value by 2035.

Metric	Value
Industry Size (2025E)	USD 602.3 million
Industry Value (2035F)	USD 1,082.4 million
CAGR (2025 to 2035)	6%

A survey conducted in 2020 revealed that 20 percent of the respondents who were single and never married in the United Kingdom (UK) always checked the ingredients when buying food, compared to 16 percent of the divorced respondents. A share of 19 percent of the respondents who lived with their partner stated they never looked at the ingredients of the food they were buying.

The animals and plants in bold have been used to estimate the nutrient values in the table. indicates a taxa not present in the Early-Middle Pleistocene but used as a nutrient proxy. Carb, carbohydrate; EAR, estimated average requirements; VC, vitamin C; VK, vitamin K; PUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acids;

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) Rolling Programme (RP) began in 2008 and is designed to assess the diet, nutrient intake and nutritional status of the general population aged 1.5 years and over living in private households in the UK. (For details of the previous NDNS series, which began in 1992, see the documentation for studies 3481, 4036, 4243 and 5140.)

The programme is funded by Public Health England (PHE), an executive agency of the Department of Health, and the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA).

The NDNS RP is currently carried out by a consortium comprising NatCen Social Research (NatCen) (NatCen, contract lead) and the MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge (scientific lead). The MRC Epidemiology Unit joined the consortium in November 2017. Until December 2018, the consortium included the MRC Elsie Widdowson Laboratory, Cambridge (former scientific lead). In Years 1 to 5 (2008/09 – 2012/13) the consortium also included the University College London Medical School (UCL).

Survey activities at the MRC Epidemiology Unit are delivered with the support of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (IS-BRC-1215- 20014), comprising the NIHR BRC Nutritional Biomarker Laboratory and NIHR BRC Dietary Assessment and Physical Activity Group. The NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre is a partnership between Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge, funded by the NIHR.

The NDNS RP provides the only source of high quality, nationally representative UK data on the types and quantities of foods consumed by individuals, from which estimates of nutrient intake for the population are derived. Results are used by Government to develop policy and monitor progress toward diet and nutrition objectives of UK Health Departments, for example work to tackle obesity and monitor progress towards a healthy, balanced diet as visually depicted in the Eatwell Guide. The NDNS RP provides an important source of evidence underpinning the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) work relating to national nutrition policy. The food consumption data are also used by the FSA to assess exposure to chemicals in food, as part of the risk assessment and communication process in response to a food emergency or to inform negotiations on setting regulatory limits for contaminants.

Further information is available from the gov.uk National Diet and Nutrition Survey webpage.

England Sodium Survey, 2018-2019

Estimated salt intake of adults aged 19 to 64 years in England was assessed from 24-hour urinary sodium excretion of 596 adults, selected to be representative of this section of the population and to be sufficient to detect a difference of 0.5 g of salt intake compared with the previous survey in England in 2014 (using an estimate of variation from the England 2011 and 2014 surveys - see SN 8233). Urine samples were collected over seven months (November 2018 to May 2019).

The survey was carried out by NatCen Social Research (NatCen) and the National Institute of Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (Cambridge BRC NDNS team). The latter consists of the NIHR BRC Diet, Anthropometry and Physical Activity Group and the NIHR BRC Nutritional Biomarker Laboratory hosted at the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge. The survey was funded by Public Health England.

Further information, including reports and tables can be found on the GOV.UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey: Assessment of salt intake from urinary sodium in adults (aged 19 to 64 years) in England, 2018 to 2019 webpage.

Main Topics:

• Biomeasure of sodium intake (from urine sample)
• Health behaviour

Individual Data. Excel file containing individual data for adults in the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey (men aged 19–64 y and women aged 20–49 y): serum ferritin (µg/L), daily iron intake (mg), calculated quantity of iron absorbed (mg/d) at efficiencies of absorption ranging from 1–25%, estimated physiological requirements of iron to replace obligatory losses (mg/d), and predicted prevalence of inadequate intake at each % absorption efficiency. (XLSX)

The UK Sports Nutrition market is currently valued at around USD 1,084.8 million, and is anticipated to progress at a CAGR of 8.7% to reach USD 2,498.3 million by 2035.

Metric	Value
Industry Size (2025E)	USD 1,084.8 million
Industry Value (2035F)	USD 2,498.3 million
CAGR (2025 to 2035)	8.7%

Background:
A household food consumption and expenditure survey has been conducted each year in Great Britain (excluding Northern Ireland) since 1940. At that time the National Food Survey (NFS) covered a sample drawn solely from urban working-class households, but this was extended to a fully demographically representative sample in 1950. From 1957 onwards the Family Expenditure Survey (FES) provided information on all household expenditure patterns including food expenditure, with the NFS providing more detailed information on food consumption and expenditure. The NFS was extended to cover Northern Ireland from 1996 onwards. In April 2001 these surveys were combined to form the Expenditure and Food Survey (EFS), which completely replaced both series. From January 2008, the EFS became known as the Living Costs and Food (LCF) module of the Integrated Household Survey (IHS). As a consequence of this change, the questionnaire was altered to accommodate the insertion of a core set of questions, common to all of the separate modules which together comprised the IHS. Some of these core questions are simply questions which were previously asked in the same or a similar format on all of the IHS component surveys. For further information on the LCF questionnaire, see Volume A of the LCF 2008 User Guide, held with SN 6385. Further information about the LCF, including links to published reports based on the survey, may be found by searching for 'Living Costs and Food Survey' on the ONS website. Further information on the NFS and Living Costs and Food Module of the IHS can be found by searching for 'Family Food' on the GOV.UK website.

History:
The LCF (then EFS) was the result of more than two years' development work to bring together the FES and NFS; both survey series were well-established and important sources of information for government and the wider community, and had charted changes and patterns in spending and food consumption since the 1950s. Whilst the NFS and FES series are now finished, users should note that previous data from both series are still available from the UK Data Archive, under GNs 33071 (NFS) and 33057 (FES).

Purpose of the LCF
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has overall project management and financial responsibility for the LCF, while the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) sponsors the food data element. As with the FES and NFS, the LCF continues to be primarily used to provide information for the Retail Prices Index, National Accounts estimates of household expenditure, analysis of the effect of taxes and benefits, and trends in nutrition. The results are multi-purpose, however, providing an invaluable supply of economic and social data. The merger of the two surveys also brings benefits for users, as a single survey on food expenditure removes the difficulties of reconciling data from two sources.

Design and methodology The design of the LCF is based on the old FES, although the use of new processing software by the data creators has resulted in a dataset which differs from the previous structure. The most significant change in terms of reporting expenditure, however, is the introduction of the European Standard Classification of Individual Consumption by Purpose (COICOP), in place of the codes previously used. An additional level of hierarchy has been developed to improve the mapping to the previous codes. The LCF was conducted on a financial year basis from 2001, then moved to a calendar year basis from January 2006 (to complement the IHS) until 2015-16, when the financial year survey was reinstated at the request of users. Therefore, whilst SN 5688 covers April 2005 - March 2006, SN 5986 covers January-December 2006. Subsequent years cover January-December until 2014. SN 8210 returns to the financial year survey and currently covers April 2015 - March 2016.

Northern Ireland sample
Users should note that, due to funding constraints, from January 2010 the Northern Ireland (NI) sample used for the LCF was reduced to a sample proportionate to the NI population relative to the UK.

Family Food database:
'Family Food' is an annual publication which provides detailed statistical information on purchased quantities, expenditure and nutrient intakes derived from both household and eating out food and drink. Data is collected for a sample of households in the United Kingdom using self-reported diaries of all purchases, including food eaten out, over a two week period. Where possible quantities are recorded in the diaries but otherwise estimated. Energy and nutrient intakes are calculated using standard nutrient composition data for each of some 500 types of food. Current estimates are based on data collected in the Family Food Module of the LCFS. Further information about the LCF food databases can be found on the GOV.UK Family Food Statistics web pages.

Secure Access version
A Secure Access version of the LCF from 2006 onwards is available from the UK Data Archive under SN 7047, subject to stringent access conditions. The Secure Access version includes variables that are not included in the standard End User Licence (EUL) version, including geographical variables with detail below Government Office Region, to postcode level; urban/rural area indicators; other sensitive variables; raw diary information files (derived variables are available in the EUL) and the family expenditure codes files. Users are strongly advised to check whether the EUL version is sufficient for their needs before considering an application for the Secure Access version.

Occupation data for 2021 and 2022 data files
The ONS have identified an issue with the collection of some occupational data in 2021 and 2022 data files in a number of their surveys. While they estimate any impacts will be small overall, this will affect the accuracy of the breakdowns of some detailed (four-digit Standard Occupational Classification (SOC)) occupations, and data derived from them. None of ONS' headline statistics, other than those directly sourced from occupational data, are affected and you can continue to rely on their accuracy. For further information on this issue, please see: https://www.ons.gov.uk/news/statementsandletters/occupationaldatainonssurveys.

For the fourth edition (May 2008), the value labels in the 'School' variable (in 'rawper' file) were amended. Users whose analysis includes this variable are advised to download a replacement version of the dataset. See study READ file (link below) for a full edition history.