Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)
SACN provides independent advice on nutrition and related health matters to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and other UK government organisations.
About the committee
The role of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) is to provide independent scientific advice and risk assessments on nutrition and related health issues. It advises the 4 UK health departments and other government departments and agencies.
Members are appointed as independent scientific experts on the basis of their specific skills and knowledge. The committee also includes 2 lay members.
SACN is a committee of the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and is supported in its work by a secretariat based in OHID.
The secretariat has scientific expertise that enables it to work closely with SACN members to draft risk assessments.
Terms of reference
SACN’s advice covers the scientific aspects of nutrition and health with specific reference to:
- nutrient intakes and nutritional status of the population
- nutrient content of individual foods and advice on individual nutrients and diet as a whole, including the definition of a balanced diet
- monitoring and surveillance of the above aspects
- nutritional issues that affect wider public health policy issues, including conditions where nutritional status is one of a number of risk factors (such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, oral health, osteoporosis and obesity)
- research requirements for the above
Membership
Current members are:
- Julie Lovegrove, Professor of Human Nutrition, Director of the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, University of Reading (Chair)
- Jean Adams, MRC Investigator and Professor, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge
- Dr Robert Boyle, Clinical Reader in Paediatric Allergy, School of Public Health, Imperial College London
- Susan Fairweather-Tait, Emeritus Professor, University of East Anglia
- Gill Fine, Public Health Nutritionist
- Dr Darren Greenwood, Senior Lecturer in Biostatistics, University of Leeds
- Paul Haggarty, Emeritus Professor, Deputy Director, Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen
- Mairead Kiely, Professor in Nutrition, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork
- Susan Lanham-New, Professor of Human Nutrition and Head of the Discipline of Nutrition, Exercise, Chronobiology and Sleep at the University of Surrey
- Sophie Moore, Professor of Global Women and Children’s Health, Department of Women and Children’s Health, King’s College London
- Ken Ong, MRC Investigator and Professor of Paediatric Epidemiology, MRC Epidemiology Unit and Department of Paediatrics, University of Cambridge
- Lucilla Poston CBE, Tommy’s Professor of Maternal and Fetal Health, Head of School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King’s College London
- Paula Moynihan, Adjunct Professor, Adelaide Dental School, Adelaide University
- Lisa Randall (lay member), engineer, business adviser and non-executive director
- Siân Robinson, Emeritus Professor, Newcastle University
- Saranja Sivachelvam (lay member), finance and equity research professional
- Dr Tammy Tong, UKRI future leaders fellow and Senior Nutritional Epidemiologist, Cancer Epidemiology Unit, Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford
- Kevin Whelan, Professor of Dietetics, Head of the Department of Nutritional Sciences, King’s College London
Register of interests
The SACN register of interests contains details of all declarations of interest by members of SACN, its subgroup and working groups. This information is updated as and when declarations are made.
Annual reports
View the latest SACN annual reports on the SACN reports and position statements page. The latest report contains a summary table of members’ interests for quick reference.
Code of practice
The SACN code of practice (updated September 2025) sets out how the committee puts into practice the guidelines governing scientific advisory committees, such as the Government Office for Science Code of Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees.
An earlier version of the SACN code of practice can be viewed on the SACN page in the National Archives.
Framework for the evaluation of evidence
SACN follows a set Framework and methods for the evaluation of evidence that relates food and nutrients to health (updated October 2024) to ensure a consistent approach is taken with all its assessments. You can also view earlier versions of the framework.
The framework is regularly reviewed by the Subgroup on framework and methods for evaluation of evidence.
SACN meetings
2026 meeting dates: 12 March, 17 and 18 June, and 19 November.
The committee holds 3 main meetings a year and regular horizon scan meetings (usually every 2 years). Where possible, meetings are held in open session by default. If you would like to observe one of these meetings, email the SACN secretariat at sacn@dhsc.gov.uk.
View minutes and papers of SACN main meetings. Minutes of meetings before 2014 can be viewed on the SACN page on the National Archives.
Subgroups and working groups
Details of current subgroups and working groups are provided below. You can also view details of past SACN working groups.
Subgroup on Maternal and Child Nutrition (SMCN)
View details on the SMCN subgroup and its work.
2026 meeting dates: 12 February.
Meetings are held in closed session.
View minutes of SMCN meetings. Minutes of meetings before 2014 can be viewed on the SMCN page on the National Archives.
Subgroup on SACN framework and methods for evidence evaluation
View details on the framework subgroup and its work.
View SACN’s framework for the evaluation of evidence.
2026 meeting dates: to be confirmed.
Meetings are held in closed session.
View minutes of the framework subgroup.
Nutrition and maternal health working group
View details on the maternal health working group and its work.
From October 2024, work on the nutrition and maternal health risk assessment moved to sit under SMCN’s work programme. The first joint meeting of SMCN and the nutrition and maternal health working group was held in February 2025.
View minutes of the maternal health working group before February 2025.
Vitamin D working group
View details on the vitamin D working group and its work.
2026 meeting dates: 3 February.
Meetings are held in closed session.
View minutes of the vitamin D working group.
SACN publications
The SACN reports and position statements page brings together all SACN reports, position statements, rapid reviews and other papers.
If you’d like to receive updates about SACN’s publications, contact sacn@dhsc.gov.uk to be added to the interested parties list.
Older publications can be viewed on the SACN page on the National Archives.
View guides to SACN publications related to:
If you’d like to receive updates about SACN’s publications, contact sacn@dhsc.gov.uk to be added to the interested parties list.
COMA reports
The Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA) advised the UK government on matters relating to food and nutrition prior to the establishment of SACN in 2000.
See reports published by COMA.
Contact details
SACN Secretariat
Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
Department of Health and Social Care
39 Victoria Street
London
SW1H 0EU
Email: sacn@dhsc.gov.uk
Media enquiries
Contact the DHSC press office.