Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 16 May 2022 to Written Question 518 on Nutrition, if his Department will make an estimate of the cost for (a) an adult and (b) a child to eat in line with the dietary advice contained in the Community Eatwell Guide.

The Eatwell Guide shows the proportions of the different types of foods which contribute to a healthy, balanced diet. It allows for flexibility and is not prescriptive, as it is possible to eat a diet in line with the guide by choosing from a range of foods and drinks. In 2016, ‘Eatwell Guide: modelling the dietary and cost implications of incorporating new sugar and fibre guidelines’ by Scarborough et al analysed the cost of a modelled diet reflective of the Eatwell Guide recommendations. This had a guide cost £5.99 per adult per day, which was similar to the cost of the average diet in the United Kingdom at that time at £6.02 per adult per day. The Office of Health Improvement and Disparities will explore options to assess the cost of a healthy diet with a focus on families.