Briefing paper on discretionary foods and drinks

Prepared by the Public Health Nutrition Division, Food Standards Scotland.

Published by:

  • Food Standards Scotland

Abbreviations

 

 

DISHDietary Intake in Scotland’s Children
FSSFood Standards Scotland
HFSSHigh fat, salt or sugar
KCALKilocalories   
LCFSLiving Cost and Food Survey
NPMNutrient Profile Model
NDNSNational Diet and Nutrition Survey
PHSPublic Health Scotland
SACNScientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition
SGScottish Government
SHeSScottish Health Survey
SDGsScottish Dietary Goals
SIMD Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation

Glossary

Discretionary foods

 

A collective term used in this paper for discretionary foods and drinks. Items of food and drink which are high in calories and/or fats, sugar or salt, low in nutritional value, and which aren’t required for health.
Free sugarsThis comprises all sugars (monosaccharides and disaccharides) added to foods by the manufacturer, cook or consumer, plus sugars naturally present in honey, syrups and unsweetened fruit juices. Under this definition lactose when naturally present in milk and milk products is excluded. Also referred to as added sugars.
Out of home Any food or drink bought and eaten away from home, including ‘food on the go’ and any takeaway or home delivered food.
Scottish Dietary Goals (SDGs)The SDGs describe, in nutritional terms, the diet that will improve and support the health of the population in Scotland. They indicate the direction of travel, and the extent of the dietary change needed, to reduce the burden of obesity and diet-related disease in Scotland. The Goals underpin diet and health policy in Scotland and will be used for scientific monitoring purposes. 
Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD)

SIMD is a tool for identifying the places in Scotland where people are experiencing disadvantage across different aspects of their lives. SIMD gives a ranking for each small area, or data zone, which shows how deprived that area is compared to other areas. SIMD 5 = least deprived quintile 

SIMD 1 = most deprived quintile

Sugar containing soft drinksAlso referred to as soft drinks with added sugar or sugary drinks. 
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