What current dietary guidelines and government strategies exist, and how are they meant to improve public health?
Current dietary guidelines and government strategy: the Eatwell Guide and the 8 tips for healthy eating, the role of bodies such as Public Health England and SACN, reference intakes and food labelling, and public-health initiatives to improve diet.
A CCEA A-Level Nutrition and Food Science answer on current dietary guidelines and government strategy: the Eatwell Guide and 8 tips for healthy eating, the role of SACN and public-health bodies, reference intakes and food labelling, and initiatives to improve the nation's diet.
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What this dot point is asking
CCEA wants you to describe the current dietary guidelines and government strategy that aim to improve public health: the Eatwell Guide and the 8 tips for healthy eating, the work of advisory bodies such as SACN and Public Health England, reference intakes and food labelling, and the public-health initiatives used to change what people eat.
The Eatwell Guide and the 8 tips
The Guide advises basing meals on starchy carbohydrates (ideally wholegrain, about a third of the diet), eating plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least five a day, about another third), choosing some protein foods (beans, pulses, fish, eggs, lean meat), having some dairy or fortified alternatives, using unsaturated oils and spreads in small amounts, and eating foods high in fat, salt and sugar only occasionally. It also advises 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day.
Advisory bodies, labelling and strategy
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) reviews scientific evidence and advises the government, setting the Dietary Reference Values and producing reports (on sugar, salt, fat, vitamin D and others) that shape the guidelines. Public Health England and the devolved equivalents then deliver guidance and campaigns.
Examples in context
Example 1. The soft-drinks industry levy. Faced with rising childhood obesity and tooth decay, the government introduced a levy on high-sugar soft drinks. Many manufacturers reformulated to lower sugar and avoid the charge, cutting the sugar in the drinks supply. This is a clear example of government strategy changing the food environment rather than relying only on individual choice, the kind of policy CCEA expects you to evaluate.
Example 2. School food standards. Mandatory standards for school meals limit fried and sugary foods, require fruit and vegetables and restrict sugary drinks. By shaping what children eat during the day, these standards aim to establish healthy habits and reduce obesity. This shows guidance being enforced through settings, complementing the Eatwell Guide and labelling.
Try this
Q1. State the two food groups that should together make up about two thirds of the diet according to the Eatwell Guide. [2 marks]
- Cue. Starchy carbohydrates (ideally wholegrain) and fruit and vegetables.
Q2. Name the committee that reviews scientific evidence and sets Dietary Reference Values for the government. [1 mark]
- Cue. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).
Q3. Explain how the soft-drinks industry levy is intended to improve health. [2 marks]
- Cue. It taxes high-sugar drinks, encouraging manufacturers to reformulate with less sugar, cutting sugar intake and reducing obesity and tooth decay.
Exam-style practice questions
Practice questions written in the style of CCEA exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.
CCEA AS 20196 marksDescribe the main messages of the Eatwell Guide and explain how following it can improve health.Show worked answer →
A 6-mark answer needs the food-group proportions of the Eatwell Guide and the health benefits that follow.
The Eatwell Guide shows the balance of foods for a healthy diet as a divided plate. It advises basing meals on starchy carbohydrates, ideally wholegrain (about a third of the diet), eating plenty of fruit and vegetables (at least five a day, about another third), choosing some protein foods such as beans, pulses, fish, eggs and lean meat, having some dairy or fortified alternatives, choosing unsaturated oils and spreads in small amounts, and eating foods high in fat, salt and sugar only occasionally and in small amounts. It also reminds people to drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day.
Following it improves health by supplying enough fibre, vitamins and minerals while keeping saturated fat, free sugars and salt down. This helps maintain a healthy weight and lowers the risk of obesity, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers and tooth decay.
Markers reward the main food-group proportions, the fruit and vegetable and fluid advice, and at least two named health benefits linked to the guidance.
CCEA AS 20214 marksExplain the role of front-of-pack traffic light labelling in helping consumers make healthier choices.Show worked answer →
A 4-mark answer needs how the labelling works and how it helps the consumer.
Front-of-pack traffic light labelling colours the levels of fat, saturated fat, sugars and salt in a portion as red (high), amber (medium) or green (low), alongside the amount in grams and the percentage of the reference intake. This lets shoppers see at a glance whether a food is high or low in the nutrients we are advised to limit.
It helps consumers compare similar products quickly, choose those with more greens and ambers and fewer reds, and balance an occasional red-rated treat with healthier choices over the day. It supports the dietary guidelines by making the salt, sugar and saturated-fat messages visible at the point of choice.
Markers reward the red, amber, green meaning for fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt, the link to reference intakes, and how it guides comparison and healthier choices.
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Sources & how we know this
- CCEA GCE Nutrition and Food Science specification — CCEA (2016)
- The Eatwell Guide — Public Health England (2016)