The UK’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) says UK consumers should continue to ensure saturated fats account for “no more than 10%” of daily calories after reviewing review advice issued since 1994.
The SACN said on August 1 that it had reviewed advice given by the UK Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) on the consumption of saturated fats.
It recommended no changes to the council, saying that “the dietary reference value for saturated fats remained unchanged: the average [population] contribution of saturated fatty acids to [total] dietary energy was reduced to no more than 10%.”
Professor Paul Haggarty, chair of the SACN’s Health and Saturated Fats Working Group, said: “Looking at the evidence, our report confirms that reducing saturated fat reduces total cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart disease.
“Our advice is that saturated fats should be reduced to no more than 10% of dietary energy.”
Survey data since the 1980s showed that the main sources of saturated fat have changed little over the past 30 years, SACN said.
Saturated fat intake fell during this time but remained above recommendations at about 12% of dietary energy.
Data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey indicated that average intake of saturated fats remained above UK government recommendations.
In 2014-2015 and 2015-2016, mean intakes of saturated fat as a percentage of total dietary energy were 12.4% to 13% in children (aged four to 18 years), 11.9% in those aged 19 to 64 years, 12.5% (aged 65-74 years) and 14.3% (aged 75 years and over), the committee said.
According to the SACN, average saturated fat intake among UK adults aged 19-64 had fallen since the mid-1980s, when it was around 16% of total calories consumed.
The committee said its recommendations – which applied to adults and children aged five and over – were consistent with international guidelines, including those made in the US and Australia, and by the World Health Organisation and the European Food Standards Agency.
Professor Louis Levy, head of nutrition science at Public Health England, said: “The SACN review supports and strengthens current advice. We recommend eating foods high in saturated fat less frequently and in smaller amounts, and switching to unsaturated fats to help achieve a healthy, balanced diet.”
He added: “We all need to act, but food manufacturers, suppliers and vendors have a special responsibility to help people do this.”
The SACN said data collected between 2008 and 2016 indicated that “average consumption of saturated fats remained above UK government recommendations”.
Cereals and cereal products (mainly biscuits, breads, cakes, pastries, puddings and pizza), milk and dairy products (mainly cheese and milk) and meat and meat products were the main contributors to saturated fat intake in all age groups.
The research indicated that milk and dairy products accounted for 21% of saturated fat consumption.
Source: OFI Magazine
