Introduction
The Scottish National Party (SNP) has proposed the introduction of statutory price ceilings on a basket of essential food items, to help address the rising cost of living. Further analysis of the 2024 Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) dietary data was conducted by Food Standards Scotland (FSS) to support the identification of the most consumed foods within each of the Eatwell Guide food groups.
In line with initial advice regarding the approach to selecting items for inclusion within a food price cap, this analysis excluded discretionary food groups. Discretionary foods and drinks are those that are typically high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS), low in nutritional value, and are not required as part of a healthy diet. A small number of additional categories were also excluded where they were considered lower priority, not aligned with dietary recommendations, targeted at young children, or not suitable for analysis.
The average intake of excluded categories (g/person/day), and the rationale for exclusion, are provided in Appendix 1. The total average intake of excluded categories was 191g excluding liquids. In comparison, the average intake of the included food categories totalled 571.4 g/person/day (excluding liquids [1] ), meaning that excluded categories accounted for approximately a quarter of total intake. Liquids were removed to allow a more meaningful comparison of food intakes, as their high volume can disproportionately skew estimates of total intake in grams.
To identify foods that make the greatest contribution to dietary intake, the analysis examined consumption frequency, the prevalence of consumption within the population, and the quantity consumed (total grams and average g/person/day). This was conducted within Eatwell Guide food groups (e.g. starchy carbohydrate foods, vegetables and fruit, protein foods, dairy and alternatives, and oils and spreads).
Food level data, the most granular level available, was used for frequency and total grams analyses (e.g. bananas were the most frequently consumed fruit). Food category data was used for prevalence of consumption and average g/person/day (e.g. average grams of fruit per person per day was 70g).
Results were calculated for the total population and analysed by Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintile and equivalised household income quintile, with the Intake24 scaling variable applied as a survey weight. Weightings and demographic splits could only be applied to food category level analyses. No minimum cell size threshold was applied, and some demographic groups had small sample sizes, particularly minority ethnic groups. No statistical testing was undertaken, therefore results should be interpreted descriptively and not as evidence of statistically significant differences between population groups.
Summary of findings
- High fibre breakfast cereals accounted for the largest share of average starchy carbohydrate foods intake (g/person/day) (13.9%), while white bread was consumed by the highest proportion of the population (45.7%).
- Vegetable and fruit intake was lower among those living in more deprived areas, with similar differences observed after excluding fruit juice and smoothies.
- Fruit accounted for the largest share of average vegetables and fruit intake (g/person/day) (37.3%), while vegetables (not raw)[2] were consumed by the highest proportion of the population (52.6%).
- Within the protein foods category, chicken and turkey dishes accounted for the largest share of average intake (g/person/day) (30.2%) and were also consumed by the highest proportion of the population (38.8%).
- Eggs and egg dishes accounted for a relatively small proportion of total average protein food consumption, with other eggs and egg dishes contributing 9.9% of total intake and manufactured egg products contributing a further 1.4%.
- Semi-skimmed milk accounted for the largest share of average dairy and alternatives intake (g/person/day) (42.8%) and was consumed by the highest proportion of the population (46.5%).
- Reduced-fat non-polyunsaturated spreads accounted for the largest share of average oils and spreads intake (g/person/day) (54.7%) and were consumed by the highest proportion of the population (13.3%).
- Bananas (n=760), carrots (n=227), semi-skimmed milk (n=4,079), toast made with white bread (n=543), and roast chicken with the skin removed (n=102) were among the most frequently consumed individual food items.
References:
[1] Note – liquids excluded for comparative purposes were fruit juice and smoothies; semi skimmed, whole, skimmed and one percent milk; and other milk and cream.
[2] Note – vegetables (not raw) does not include potatoes which is captured within starchy carbohydrate foods. Sweet potatoes are included within vegetables.