NDNS: results from years 9 to 11 (2016 to 2017 and 2018 to 2019)

11 December 2020

The latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS), 2016/2017 to 2018/2019, shows a slight decrease in the amount of sugar contributing to children’s and adult’s daily calorie intake, however all age groups are still consuming twice as much as the maximum recommendation of 5% of total energy.  

	Maximum Recommendation (g/day)	NDNS (2016-2019)
1.5 - 3 years	Avoid	27.9g
4 - 10 years	19g - 24g	47.3g
11 - 18 years	30g	54.9g
19 - 63 years	30g	49.7g
65 - 74 years	30g	40.8g
75 years and over	30g	44.1g

Table 1. Free Sugar RDA and latest NDNS (2016-2019) average free sugar consumption results 

All age groups reduced the amount of soft drinks consumed apart from those who are aged 75 years and over, and a decrease in sugar and chocolate confectionery in those aged 11 – 18 years.  

The top contributors of free sugars, by age group were: 

Age group	Top contributor
1.5-3 years	Yogurt, fromage frais + other dairy desserts
4-10 years	Buns, cakes, pastries + fruit pies
11-18 years	Soft drinks, not low calorie
19-64 years	Sugars, including table sugar, preserves + sweet spreads
65-74 years	Sugars, including table sugar, preserves + sweet spreads
75 years + over	Sugars, including table sugar, preserves + sweet spreads

Table 2. Top contributors of free sugars 

The survey also showed that the UK population are still consuming too much saturated fat and not enough fibre. There was little change in the number of portions of fruit and vegetables consumed in all age groups, but there was a slight increase in the percentage of children/adults consuming their 5 a day. 

Sodium intake was collected in a separate NDNS survey in March 2020 in which it was found the mean salt intake for adults was 8.4g per day, 40%higher than the recommended maximum of 6g per day.  

Fruit and Vegetables 

There was no change in consumption levels of fruit and vegetables from 2014-2016 compared to 2016-2019 except a 0.2 portion increase in children aged 11 to 18 years. 

Average consumption was: 

• Children aged 1.5 - 3 years – No info 
• Children aged 4 – 10 years – No info 
• 2.9 portions / day in children aged 11 to 18 years 
• 4.3 portions / day in adults aged 19 to 64 years 
• 4.5 portions / day in adults aged 65 to 74 years 
• 3.9 portions / day in adults aged 75 years and over  

	2008 - 2010	2010 - 2012	2012 - 2014	2014 - 2016	2016 - 2019
11 – 18 years	2.8	2.6	2.8	2.7	2.9
19 – 64 years	4.1	3.9	4.0	4.2	4.3
65 – 74 years	4.9	4.7	4.5	4.3	4.5
75 years and over	3.8	4.2	3.9	3.4	3.9

Fibre 

All age groups didn’t meet the government recommendations for fibre intake. There was a significant increase in the number of boys aged 4 to 10 years meeting the recommendations, but no significant changes in other age/sex groups.  

Percentage of those meeting the recommendations: 

• 12% aged 1.5 to 3 years 
• 14% aged 4 to 10 years 
• 4% aged 11 to 18 years 
• 9% in 19 to 64 years 
• 9% in 65 – 74 years 
• 3% of 75 years and over 

Mean intakes were: 

• 10.4g/day aged 1.5 to 3 years 
• 14.3g/day aged 4 to 10 years 
• 16g/day aged 11 to 18 years 
• 19.7g / day in 19 to 64 years 
• 19.7g / day in 65 to 74 years 
• 17.3g / day in 75 years and over 

Dr Kawther Hashem, Campaign Lead at Action on Sugar says:

“We are very pleased to see people are drinking fewer sugar-sweetened soft drinks; undoubtedly this is due to the significant impact of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy. However, it is still concerning that older boys continue to drink far too many of them, compared with other age groups that have reduced their consumption.”

“Overall there are promising signs as sugar consumption is slowly coming down. This success is the result of one strong policy - we need to be exploring and pushing more of these world leading policies to bring sugar intakes down further, as we are still very far from meeting the recommendation.”