Setting the Table Guidance: Nutritional Technical Working Group Report

5. Nutrient standards

5.1 Revised energy and nutrient standards

A full menu of a main meal, two light meals, two snacks and drinks should provide around 90% of the energy and nutrient requirement for a child in full-time childcare (approximately 10 hours/day).

Energy requirements are split across the following eating occasions:

• Light meal, e.g. breakfast provides 20% of a child’s energy requirement.
• Snack, mid-morning provides 10% of a child’s energy requirement.
• Main meal, e.g. lunch provides 30% of a child’s energy requirement.
• Snack, afternoon provides 10% of a child’s energy requirement.
• Light meal, e.g. tea provides 20% of a child’s energy requirement.

Where these meals and snacks are provided within the setting, the remaining 10% of a child’s energy requirements will be provided at home.

Table 2 provides the energy and nutrient standards for 30% of a child’s requirement and details how these were derived. Refer to annex for nutrient standards split by meal occasion.

Table 2 – Revised nutrient standards for a main meal providing 30% of daily energy and nutrient requirements

‘U’ denotes updated standard ‘N’ denotes new standard

5.2 Rationale for revised energy and nutrient standards

One set of standards for children aged 1 up to 5 years

There is now one set of standards for children aged 1 up to 5 years (i.e. up to 60 months). This is a change to the previous standards which had standards for 1 to 3 and 4 to 5 year olds. Having one set of nutrient standards is more straightforward for early years childcare providers who wish to analyse their menus, and this is consistent with the approach taken in the school food regulations in Scotland.

Basing standards on children aged up to 60 months aligns with the ages included in the SACN feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years (2023) report. It was acknowledged that there could be children in these settings aged above 60 months, however this is likely to be a very small proportion.

The new standards are based on children with the highest nutritional requirements (i.e. 1-2 year olds or 3-4 year olds). Iron is the only nutrient where 1-2 year olds have a higher requirement than 3-4 year olds.

The updated STT guidance acknowledges that children have varied appetites which can also depend on their age and stage of development, meaning portion sizes should be adjusted accordingly.

Energy

The standard for energy has been calculated using the estimated average requirements as stated in the SACN Dietary Reference Values for Energy (2011) report.

Total fat and saturated fat

The standard for total fat is set at no more than 35% of energy. This is a change to the previous standards where total fat was set at no more than 40% of energy for 1 to 3 year olds, falling to 35% for 4 to 5 year olds. In addition, a new standard for saturated fat has been added. This reflects recommendations in the SACN Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years (2023) report which states that the government considers advising that current population dietary guidelines apply from around age 2 years. The new standard for saturated fat is set at no more than 10% of energy, which reflects the recommendations proposed and agreed by SACN (as stated in the minute of the June 2024 main SACN meeting) with regards to Dietary Reference Values for macronutrients. The TWG agreed that the fat and saturated fat standards should apply from age 1 year as no negative implications could be identified of this approach.

Protein

The protein standard has been calculated based on the reference nutrient intake (RNI), as stated in the Department of Health Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom (1991) report, which is consistent with the approach taken in the previous standards. This approach aligns with the recommendation in the SACN Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years (2023) report that the government considers approaches to reducing excess protein intakes towards the dietary reference values for children aged 1-5 years.

It is important to note that calculating the protein standard based on the RNI does not equate to 15% of energy (which in practice would be required to meet 100% of energy requirements if fat is 35% of energy and carbohydrate is 50% of energy). However, the standard for protein is a minimum, and could therefore be exceeded to ensure energy requirements are achieved.

Carbohydrate, free sugars and fibre

The carbohydrate standard continues to be set at a minimum of 50% of energy.

A new standard for free sugars replaces the previous standard for non-milk extrinsic sugar, and is set at 5% of energy which reflects the recommendation in the SACN Carbohydrates and Health (2015) report.

A new standard for fibre (AOAC) has been added and has been set based on the recommendation in the SACN Carbohydrates and Health (2015) report.

Whilst the SACN Feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years (2023) report recommends that intakes of free sugars should apply for age 1 year, the recommendations for total carbohydrate and fibre apply from age 2 years. However, the TWG were comfortable with the carbohydrate and fibre standards applying from age 1 year, as no negative implications could be identified for consumption at this level. Furthermore, the guidance states that increasing higher fibre foods should be done slowly.

Folate

A new standard has been added for folate. This has been calculated based on the RNI, as stated in the Department of Health Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom (1991) report. The rationale for adding this standard is that it aligns with encompassing other micronutrients within the standards, and is also consistent with the approach taken in the School Food Regulations in Scotland.

Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Iron, Calcium and Zinc

No changes have been made to the standards for vitamin A, C, iron, calcium and zinc. They continue to be calculated based on the RNI’s as stated in the Department of Health Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom (1991) report.

Salt and sodium

The standards for salt and sodium continue to be based on the recommendation in the SACN Salt and Health (2003) report.

Vitamin D

The standard for vitamin D has been removed as the main source of vitamin D is sunlight. It is only found in a small number of foods and it is therefore difficult to get enough from foods that naturally contain vitamin D and/or fortified foods alone. In addition, it is recommended that children aged under 5 years take a daily supplement containing 10 micrograms of vitamin D all year round.

Water

The standard for water has been removed as it is captured within the standard for drinks