​Monitoring progress towards the Scottish Dietary Goals 2001 to 2012 - Report 1

Summary

Estimation of Food and Nutrient intakes from food purchase data in Scotland 2001 to 2012

The aim of this study was to update annual trends in food consumption and nutrient intakes using the same robust secondary analysis methodology previously developed to convert purchase to consumption. Analysis included both household and eating out foods and drinks for the years 2001 to 2012. Intakes were calculated for a range of foods and drinks of interest in relation to diet quality and deprivation.

Key findings

• There continued to be little progress towards meeting the goals over the period 2001 to 2012.
• Overall, there were small but significant decreases in the percentage of food energy from saturated fat and added sugars between 2001 and 2012, but intakes of saturated fat, total fat and added sugars remained too high.
• Despite an increase in fruit and vegetables up to 2010, by 2012 consumption had dropped and this trend was no longer apparent. Intakes of fruit and vegetables, oily fish and dietary fibre remained too low.
• There was no change in average intakes of red and processed meat and no difference in the consumption by deprivation.
• People living in the most deprived areas continued to consume the least fruit and vegetables, oil rich fish and fibre and the most added sugars. Conversely saturated fat intakes were highest in the most affluent.

The results show the very slow rate of progress towards a diet that will improve and support the health of the Scottish population. FSS will continue to work in partnership with others and use this evidence to develop proposals for policy on diet, in line with our remit.

You can also read the associated Contribution of foods report here.