Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the work of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition; how many of their recommendations in relation to nutrition have been implemented; and how many have not been implemented, and why.

The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) is a committee of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), and provides independent scientific advice to ministers, as well as risk assessments on nutrition and related health issues. The SACN undertakes robust consideration of the evidence for its risk assessments, before providing dietary recommendations.

Ministers are informed of the SACN’s publications and risk assessments on the same basis as official statistics. Following publication, ministers consider the recommendations and policy options for implementation, including for application across the United Kingdom, and involvement of the devolved administrations where appropriate.

To date, all of the SACN’s dietary recommendations have been accepted by the Government. However, on occasion, recommendations have been adapted for implementation. For example, in 2016 the SACN recommended a reference nutrient intake for vitamin D of 10 micrograms per day for the general population, for the whole year. However, the Government advises that the general population only takes a daily 10 microgram supplement during the winter months, to take account of the contribution from the sun during the summer months.