Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to publish recommended dietary advice, similar to that for fruit and vegetables, for meat and fish.

The Government recommends eating some meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein as part of a healthy balanced diet. Government advice is that we should eat on average no more than 70 grams of red meat a day due to the increased risk of bowel cancer. It also recommends eating two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily, as oily fish provide long chain omega-3 fatty acids, which may help to prevent heart disease.

Dietary recommendations for meat and fish consumption are published in the national food model, the Eatwell Guide and its supporting messages. The Eatwell Guide provides visual representation on national guidance of how a balanced diet looks. A copy of the Eatwell Guide is attached.

Supporting documentation includes the Government Dietary Recommendations: Government recommendations for energy and nutrients for males and females aged 1-18 years and 19+ years, which outlines the breakdown of calorie, vitamin and mineral intake for different age groups. A copy of the Government Dietary Recommendations is attached.