A repeat analysis of the calorie content of sweet discretionary products in the out of home sector in Scotland – 2023

Summary

Food Standards Scotland data has consistently shown sweet discretionary products such as cakes, pastries and biscuits to be among the top ten food categories purchased out of home. An analysis of sweet discretionary products was previously carried out between May and September 2022, with findings indicating these items widely ranged in calories. The purpose of the current research was to assess whether there had been any changes in the calorie content of these products between 2022 and 2023.

Data was collected from the same 18 out of home businesses identified in the 2022 analysis. Additionally, dessert drinks such as milkshakes, frappes and ice cream floats that could be consumed as a standalone snack item or drinkable dessert were explored for the first time.

Key findings:

• Overall, the average calorie content per portion of all sweet discretionary products gathered in 2023 (449 kcals) was slightly lower than in 2022 (465 kcals).
• A greater proportion of the products available in 2023 contained less than 325 kcals [1], (23.8%) compared to 2022 (17.6%). However, more than three quarters (76.2%) of the 808 products were above the recommended maximum calories per portion.
• 68.8% of the 461 products available in both 2022 and 2023, had not changed in calorie contents. Of those that had changed, a higher proportion had decreased than increased in calories.
• Dessert drinks such as milkshakes, frappes and ice cream floats, were a new category explored in this report. They were found to contain an average of 451 kcals per portion, with 86.8% found to be above the recommended maximum calories per portion of 300 kcals [2].

Although the results from the 2023 analysis demonstrated some reductions in the calorie content of sweet discretionary products through reformulation and/or reduced portion sizes, the findings highlight the profound scale of change required to bring out of home sweet discretionary products that are available in Scotland in line with government calorie recommendations.

Footnotes

[1] 325 kcals is the UK Government sugar reduction programme maximum calorie recommendation for sweet discretionary products covered by this research.

[2] 300 kcals is the UK Government maximum calorie recommendation for milk based drinks.