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

View SACN’s terms of reference.

Membership

View SACN’s membership.

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. The latest report contains a summary table of members’ interests for quick reference.

Older annual reports can be viewed on the SACN annual reports page on the National Archives.

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

View SACN publications including:

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

See reports published by the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA).

COMA advised UK government on matters relating to food and nutrition prior to the establishment of SACN in 2000.

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.

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