The UK faces mounting pressure to establish formal dietary recommendations for nuts, seeds, and dried fruit consumption, according to a groundbreaking expert consensus.
The initiative, commissioned by Whitworths and facilitated by the British Nutrition Foundation, brought together specialists across nutrition science, behavioural change, and public policy.
Their conclusion proved unequivocal: Britons should consume these nutrient-dense foods daily.
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The consensus emerges as diet-related illness remains the nation's primary cause of mortality and disability, while fibre consumption falls significantly short of recommended levels.
To get a handle on Britain's dietary deficiencies and health outcomes, experts identified that nuts, seeds, and dried fruit could provide an "immediate, practical solution".
Not only can these foods bridge the nation's fibre deficit, they also support weight management and provide vital nutrients.
Highlighting another key benefit, researchers said the trio of snacks could "crucially" displace high-fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) foods.
Britons have been advised to consume nuts, seeds, and dried fruits daily
|PA
The consensus emphasised that incorporating these ingredients into daily consumption patterns could significantly reduce the burden of chronic disease currently overwhelming the NHS.
Common chronic diseases include cardiovascular conditions, cancers, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.
The new findings directly challenge current dental guidance, urging the restriction of dried fruit to mealtimes.
Calling this recommendation "outdated", experts identified these restrictions as lacking substantial scientific backing, calling for an immediate reassessment.
"The science is clear: nuts, seeds, and dried fruit are underutilised tools in our national fight against poor diet and related chronic disease," stated Phil Gowland, Whitworths director of health.
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New findings challenged 'outdated' guidance on dried fruit consumption
|GETTY
The report argued that consumer confusion surrounding these foods, particularly regarding dental health concerns, creates unnecessary barriers to consumption.
Britain's approach contrasts starkly with European neighbours who have already implemented specific consumption targets.
Germany, Spain, and Italy have established formal recommendations of 20–30g of nuts daily, while the UK lacks quantifiable guidance.
The report suggests incorporating nuts and seeds into existing "five-a-day" messaging or developing a "five-a-day plus one" framework.
This would acknowledge the distinct nutritional advantages these foods offer beyond traditional fruit and vegetable consumption.
Chief executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, Elaine Hindal, commented: "Our recent roundtables have shown that dried fruit, nuts and seeds offer a powerful, practical opportunity to support better public health."
The consensus demanded swift action through targeted public communications and retail trials to transform shopping behaviours.
The British Nutrition Foundation stressed that meaningful change remains both urgent and achievable through immediate implementation across sectors.