Preprint - Mismatches between UK food supply and dietary guidelines: A dietary gap assessment

This preprint was submitted to Public Health Nutrition on the 18/11/24.

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to assess how aligned the UK food supply is with the national dietary guidelines (Eatwell Guide).

Design: A dietary gap assessment was carried out on the 2022 UK food supply with FAOSTAT Food Balance Sheets (FAO-FBS) data. The datasets included the overall food supply, domestic production, imports and exports, excluding food for animal feed, seeds and non-food uses. Foods were grouped into carbohydrates, oil, dairy, protein, fruit and vegetables, and sugar. The percentage contribution of each food group to the food supply was compared to the Eatwell Guide. An overview of the food supply from 2010-2022 was also assessed. To triangulate the data, FAO-FBS data was compared with the 2022 data from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Setting: The United Kingdom, 2010-2022

Participants: N/A

Results: The proportion of fruit and vegetable and carbohydrates in the UK food supply was lower than in the Eatwell Guide, while dairy and oil were higher. In terms of domestic production, only 7% of the food produced was fruit and vegetables. This was the second smallest proportion, just after oils (4%), and about half of the amount of sugar beet produced in the country (13%).

Conclusion: Although the relationship between food supply and consumption is complex, the mismatch between the food supply and dietary guidelines in the UK will need to be addressed as part of efforts to encourage healthy eating. Going forwards, DEFRA should include dietary gap assessments as part of their Food Security Index reports.