Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to update the recommendations of the Eatwell Guide to address the health of the gut microbiome, and the environmental impacts of the food system.

There are no plans at this time to update the Eatwell Guide, as the key messages conveyed by the guide are up to date with all current dietary recommendations. The Eatwell Guide depicts a healthy, balanced diet that is based on fruit, vegetables, and higher fibre starchy carbohydrates. The principles of the guide are promoted through the NHS.UK website and the Government’s social marketing campaign, Better Health, including Healthier Families and Start for Life.

The gut microbiome is highly complex and varies considerably among individuals. The impacts of dietary interventions targeting the gut microbiome, such as probiotics and prebiotics, are not well understood due to variability in the microbiome itself, differences in diet, and other characteristics among individuals. The evidence base is still developing, and there would need to be sufficient evidence for the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition to conduct an independent full dietary risk assessment, which would be needed before recommendations on the microbiome could be made.

Greater adherence to the Eatwell Guide has been shown to significantly improve both health, with an up to 7% reduction in mortality, and environmental outcomes, with a reduction in emissions by 30%. Given that most people in the United Kingdom do not currently follow a diet in line with Government’s dietary recommendations, moving the population to dietary intakes in line with the Eatwell Guide remains the priority and would go a significant way to meeting sustainability targets.