Collection

SACN: reports and position statements

Reports, position statements and annual reports of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN).

• From: Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
• Published: 17 January 2001
• Last updated: 3 March 2026 — See all updates

You can view SACN publications below, or go to the SACN webpage for further information about the committee and to read the minutes of its meetings.

Reports

• Nutrition and maternal weight outcomes: SACN report
  • 3 February 2026
  • Independent report
• Plant-based drinks: health benefits and risks
  • 16 July 2025
  • Independent report
• SACN report: feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years
  • 8 May 2024
  • Independent report
• SACN report: lower carbohydrate diets for type 2 diabetes
  • 17 December 2021
  • Independent report
• Saturated fats and health: SACN report
  • 1 August 2019
  • Independent report
• Feeding in the first year of life: SACN report
  • 17 July 2018
  • Independent report
• Folic acid: updated SACN recommendations
  • 12 July 2017
  • Independent report
• SACN vitamin D and health report
  • 11 December 2023
  • Independent report
• SACN Carbohydrates and Health Report
  • 17 July 2015
  • Independent report
• SACN Dietary Reference Values for Energy
  • 1 November 2011
  • Independent report
• SACN Early Life Nutrition Report
  • 18 November 2011
  • Independent report
• SACN Iron and Health Report
  • 25 February 2011
  • Independent report
• SACN Report to CMO on folic acid and colorectal cancer risk
  • 6 September 2009
  • Independent report
• SACN applicability of WHO growth standards in the UK
  • 15 September 2007
  • Independent report
• SACN Folate and Disease Prevention Report
  • 12 July 2006
  • Independent report
• SACN Review of Dietary Advice on Vitamin A
  • 26 July 2005
  • Independent report
• SACN Advice on Fish Consumption
  • 1 December 2004
  • Independent report
• "SACN Salt and Health report": recommendations on salt in diet
  • 31 August 2003
  • Independent report

Position statements

• SACN statement on expressing fat and carbohydrate recommendations
  • 31 December 2025
  • Independent report
• SACN statement on the WHO guideline on non-sugar sweeteners
  • 2 April 2025
  • Independent report
• SACN statement on processed foods and health
  • 11 July 2023
  • Independent report
• SACN statement on nutrition and older adults
  • 2 July 2021
  • Independent report
• SACN statement on diet, cognitive impairment and dementia
  • 28 February 2018
  • Independent report
• SACN-COT statement on the introduction of peanut and hen’s egg into the infant diet
  • 8 January 2018
  • Independent report
• SACN-COT statements on potassium-based sodium replacers
  • 22 November 2017
  • Independent report
• SACN statement on military dietary reference values for energy
  • 30 September 2020
  • Independent report
• SACN Statement on Iodine and Health - 2014
  • 18 February 2014
  • Independent report
• SACN Statement on Selenium and Health - 2013
  • 12 May 2013
  • Independent report
• SACN Statement defining child underweight, overweight and obesity
  • 11 April 2012
  • Independent report
• SACN Statement on the introduction of gluten to the infant diet
  • 17 March 2011
  • Independent report
• SACN Statement on 'Good-Night Milks' - 2008
  • 12 November 2008
  • Independent report
• SACN draft position statement on dietary fibre - 2008
  • 5 August 2008
  • Independent report
• SACN Update on Trans Fatty Acids - 2007
  • 1 December 2007
  • Independent report
• SACN Update on Vitamin D - 2007
  • 6 November 2007
  • Independent report

Rapid reviews

• Processed foods and health: SACN's rapid evidence update
  • 2 April 2025
  • Independent report
• Fortifying food and drink with vitamin D: a SACN rapid review
  • 23 May 2024
  • Independent report
• SACN rapid review: Vitamin D and acute respiratory tract infections
  • 2 July 2021
  • Independent report

Annual reports

• SACN annual report 2025
  • 3 March 2026
  • Independent report
• SACN annual report 2024
  • 23 September 2025
  • Independent report
• SACN annual report 2023
  • 29 February 2024
  • Independent report
• SACN annual report 2022
  • 28 February 2023
  • Independent report
• SACN annual report 2021
  • 28 February 2022
  • Independent report
• SACN annual report 2020
  • 26 February 2021
  • Independent report
• SACN annual report 2019
  • 26 February 2020
  • Independent report
• SACN annual report 2018
  • 4 February 2020
  • Independent report
• SACN annual report 2017
  • 14 February 2018
  • Independent report
• SACN annual report 2016
  • 23 February 2017
  • Independent report
• SACN annual report 2015
  • 20 May 2016
  • Independent report
• SACN annual report 2014
  • 18 June 2015
  • Independent report
• SACN annual report 2013
  • 1 August 2014
  • Independent report
• SACN annual report 2012
  • 11 May 2012
  • Independent report

Other papers

• SACN rapid scoping exercise: nutrition, immunity and COVID-19
  • 22 December 2021
  • Independent report
• SACN Narrative Synthesis of Dietary Fibre Components
  • 13 October 2008
  • Independent report

COMA reports

The Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) advised UK government on matters relating to food and nutrition, prior to the establishment of SACN in 2000.

COMA’s publications can be accessed at the webpage below.

• COMA reports
  • 17 October 2018
  • Independent report

• Last updated: 3 March 2026
  Show all updates

  1. 3 March 2026

     Added 'SACN annual report 2025'.

  2. 3 February 2026

     Added 'Nutrition and maternal weight outcomes: SACN report'.

  3. 16 July 2025

     Added 'Plant-based drinks: health benefits and risks'.

  4. 12 June 2025

     Added 'SACN statement on expressing fat and carbohydrate recommendations'.

  5. 2 April 2025

     Updated to add 'Processed foods and health: SACN's rapid evidence update' and 'SACN statement on the WHO guideline on non-sugar sweeteners'.

  6. 17 March 2025

     Added 'SACN annual report 2024'.

  7. 23 May 2024

     Added 'Fortifying food and drink with vitamin D: a SACN rapid review' to the collection under 'Rapid reviews'.

  8. 29 February 2024

     Added 'SACN annual report 2023' to collection.

  9. 11 July 2023

     Added SACN statement on processed foods and health to collection under 'Position statements'.

  10. 4 July 2023

      Added 'SACN report: feeding young children aged 1 to 5 years' to collection under 'Reports'.

  11. 1 March 2023

      The SACN annual report 2022 has been published.

  12. 28 February 2022

      The SACN annual report 2021 has been published.

  13. 26 May 2021

      Added 'Lower carbohydrate diets for adults with type 2 diabetes'.

  14. 26 February 2021

      The SACN Annual Report 2020 has been published.

  15. 20 January 2021

      Added the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) statement on nutrition and older adults.

  16. 17 December 2020

      Added Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) rapid review on vitamin D and acute respiratory tract infections (ARTI).

  17. 26 February 2020

      Added the SACN Annual Report 2019.

  18. 1 August 2019

      Added final 'Saturated fats and health: SACN report' to the reports section.

  19. 11 July 2019

      Added 'Saturated fats and health: SACN report' to the reports section.

  20. 27 February 2019

      Added 2018 annual report.

  21. 14 February 2018

      Added annual report for 2017.

  22. 10 January 2018

      Added 'SACN-COT statement on the introduction of peanut and hen’s egg into the infant diet' under 'position statements'.

  23. 12 July 2017

      Added 'Folic acid: updated SACN recommendations'.

  24. 23 February 2017

      Added SACN annual report 2016.

  25. 16 January 2017

      Added position statement on military DRVs.

  26. 17 January 2001

      First published.