Nutritional Standards in Health and Social Care

• Project start date: 25 September 2024
• Project status: Completed
• Project type: Nutrition
• Discipline: Nutritional standards

Research objective

This review of the Nutritional Standards aimed to build on the current work that is underway to improve the food environments and options offered within HSC Trusts and to encourage healthier eating among staff and visitors.

Outputs

Research report

• Title: Nutritional Standards in Health and Social Care
• Date: 24 September 2025
• Summary: The review of the Nutritional Standards in Health and Social Care aims to strengthen healthy food provision for staff and visitors across hospital and care settings.
• Findings:

  The review involved six meetings of the review team (PHA, Dietitians Group, FSA, Procurement, Catering and Safefood) and a workshop with representatives from all 5 Trusts.

  Feedback highlighted the need for clearer, more consistent language. Updates were therefore made to adopt plain English, use more widely recognised terminology, and ensure consistency throughout the standards.

  The review also emphasised that food provision in Health and Social Care settings such as restaurants, canteens, coffee shops, vending machines and private retail outlets strongly influence staff and visitor diets. Shifting focus from individual choice to the broader food environment was a key priority.

  Finally, the revised standards were updated to reflect the latest scientific evidence and policy guidance.

• Recommendations:
  1. Apply plain English principles and standardised terminology to improve understanding and uptake.
  2. Focus on the food environment across all Health and Social Care settings, not just individual choices.
  3. Ensure the standards are evidence-based, incorporating the most up-to-date research and guidance.

  Note: The standards do not apply to patient food and beverage provision because there are already standards in place for food and beverages served to patients.