Health, Social Care and Sport Committee 10 June 2025
Yes, I would be happy to do that. A key thing for us is that our surveillance capability has improved significantly over that time. I can give you a couple of examples of what we have managed to achieve. For a long time, we have supported the use of digital tools to collect dietary information. We are unique in the UK in having integrated the Intake24 system within the health survey. We can use that tool to look at diet and to link that with information about health outcomes that are collected as part of that survey. It is the same tool that is used in the national diet and nutrition survey. That allows us to compare across the nations. That is unique.
We have commissioned our own bespoke surveys in areas where we have had data evidence gaps, such as a survey of children’s diets. It was well over 10 years since we had had a dietary survey of children, but we now have evidence to assess nutrition across the organisation. We have also developed consumer-facing tools to support the “Eatwell Guide”, which demonstrates what a healthy diet looks like. To help consumers to make changes to their lifestyles and their diets, we have a tool called “Eat Well, Your Way”, which is available on our website. That is another key aspect.
In addition, we have tools for teachers and teaching resources available on our website. There is a link-up there. Because all those things have been developed over the past 10 years, there are many different ways in which we can help the population to have a healthier diet.