Summary
The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) is the UK's primary continuous surveillance programme monitoring the food consumption, nutrient intake, and nutritional status of the general population across all age groups. This report covering 2019 to 2023 provides nationally representative estimates of dietary adequacy and likely identifies persistent shortfalls in key micronutrients — such as vitamin D, iron, and folate — particularly among children, adolescents, and older adults. As an official government statistical release produced by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, it serves as a foundational evidence base for nutrition policy, dietary guidelines, and public health interventions in England and the wider UK.
UK applicability
This report is conducted entirely within the UK and constitutes the principal national evidence base for dietary and nutritional surveillance; its findings directly inform UK government dietary guidelines, food fortification policy, and public health nutrition strategy.
Key measures
Dietary intake (g/day, % dietary reference value); nutrient biomarker concentrations (e.g. serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, ferritin, folate); food group consumption (g/day); free sugar intake (% energy); fruit and vegetable consumption (portions/day)
Outcomes reported
The survey measured dietary intakes of energy, macronutrients, and key micronutrients across age groups in the UK population, alongside biomarkers of nutritional status. It reports trends in food consumption patterns and nutrient adequacy relative to dietary reference values.
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