Clues for the development of food-based dietary guidelines: how are dietary targets being achieved by UK consumers?

Expert scientific advice to the UK Government has been translated into eight general dietary guidelines, which form the core of population-based dietary advice in the UK and are supplemented by a food selection guide showing the types and proportions of foods needed for a balanced and healthy diet. Data from the Dietary and Nutritional Survey of British Adults were used to identify statistically significant differences between subgroups of the study population that met, or failed to meet, population nutritional goals for intakes of total fat, saturated fat and dietary fibre. Several eating habits--including greater consumption of starchy foods (particularly wholemeal varieties), greater consumption of fruit and the substitution of reduced-fat milk for whole-fat milk--were shared by the subgroups that met each of the nutritional goals. This analysis provides clues for any future refinement of food-based dietary guidelines.