Guidance
Nutrient profiling model 2018: fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds definitions
Published 27 January 2026
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nutrient-profiling-model-2018/nutrient-profiling-model-2018-fruit-vegetables-nuts-and-seeds-definitions
Definition of fruit and vegetables
To estimate the amount of fruit and vegetables in a product when applying the UK nutrient profiling model (NPM) 2018, use the definitions set out in this section as a guide to what to include. It is based on an adaptation of the Eurocode 2 system for defining what counts as fruit and vegetables.
Malaceous fruit
| Malaceous fruit | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Dessert apple | Pyrus malus or Malus pumila | Includes Granny Smith, golden delicious, discovery |
| Cooking apple | Pyrus malus or Malus pumila | Includes Bramley’s seedling |
| Pear | Pyrus communis | Includes conference, Doyenne du Comice, William’s Bon Chrétien |
| Nashi pear | Pyrus pyrifolia | Asian pear |
| Quince | Cydonia oblongo | Not applicable |
| Medlar | Mespilus germanica | Not applicable |
| Loquat | Eriobotyra japonica | Japanese medlar |
Prunus species fruit
| Prunus species fruit | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Apricot | Prunus armeniacea | Not applicable |
| Peach | Prunus persica | Not applicable |
| Nectarine | Prunus persica var nectarina | Not applicable |
| Plum | Prunus domestica | Not applicable |
| Damson | Prunus domestica var institia | Includes bullace, prune damson |
| Mirabelle | Prunus domestica var syriaca | Syrian plum |
| Greengage | Prunus domestica var italica | Not applicable |
| Sweet cherry | Prunus avium | Gean |
| Sour cherry | Prunus cerasus | Acid cherry, includes morello cherry |
| Chickasaw plum | Prunus angustifolia | Not applicable |
| Susina | Prunus salicina | Japanese plum |
| Sloe | Prunus spinosa | Blackthorn, sloe plum |
Other stone fruit
| Other stone fruit | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Phoenix dactylifera | Not applicable |
| Lychee | Litchi chinensis | Litchi, lichi |
| Persimmon plum | Diaspyrous kaki | Date plum, kaki, sharon fruit |
| Barbados cherries | Malpighia spp. (species pluralis) | Acerolas, West Indian cherries |
Berries
| Berries | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| White grapes | Vitis vinifera | Not applicable |
| Black grapes | Vitis vinifera | Not applicable |
| Strawberries | Fragaria vesca | Not applicable |
| Raspberries | Rubus idaeus | Not applicable |
| Loganberries | Rubus loganobaccus | Not applicable |
| Blackberries | Rubus fruticosus | Not applicable |
| Dewberries | Rubus caesius | Youngberries |
| Cloudberries | Rubus chamaemorus | Averin, knotberries |
| Gooseberries | Ribes grossularia | Wine berries |
| Blackcurrants | Ribes nigrum | Not applicable |
| Redcurrants | Ribes rubrum | Not applicable |
| White currants | Ribes sativum | Not applicable |
| Cranberries | Vaccinium oxycoccus | Not applicable |
| Bilberries | Vaccinium myrtillis | Huckleberries, whortleberries |
| Cowberry | Vaccinium vitis var idaea | Foxberries, mountain cranberries, red bilberries, red whortleberries |
| Blueberries | Vaccinium corymbosum or Vaccinium angustifolium | Not applicable |
| Elderberries | Sambuca nigra | Not applicable |
| Rowanberries | Sorbus aucaparia | Not applicable |
| Physalis | Physalis peruviana | Cape gooseberry, Chinese lantern, golden berry |
| Mulberries | Morus spp. | Includes black mulberry, white mulberry |
| Bearberries | Arctostaphylos uva-ursi | Foxberries, marranitas |
| Sea buckthorn | Hippophae rhamnoides | Not applicable |
Citrus fruit
| Citrus fruit | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Lemon | Citrus limonum | Not applicable |
| Orange | Citrus sinensis | Sweet orange |
| Tangerine | Citrus reticulata | Mandarin orange, includes clementine, satsuma |
| Grapefruit | Citrus paradisi | Not applicable |
| Pomelo | Citrus grandis | Pummelo, shaddock |
| Lime | Citrus aurantifolia | Not applicable |
| Kumquat | Fortunella japonica | Cumquat |
Miscellaneous fruit
| Miscellaneous fruit | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Banana | Musa (infertile hybrid) | Not applicable |
| Pineapple | Ananas comosus | Ananas, pine |
| Kiwi fruit | Actinidia chinensis | Chinese gooseberry, monkey peach |
| Melon | Cucumis melo | Includes ogen, cantaloupe, honeydew, galia |
| Watermelon | Citrullus vulgaris var lanatus | Not applicable |
| Fig | Ficus carica | Not applicable |
| Mango | Mangifera indica | Not applicable |
| Pomegranate | Punica granatum | Not applicable |
| Passionfruit | Passiflora edulis | Purple granadilla |
| Cashew fruit | Anacordium occidentale | Christmas apple |
| Guava | Psidium guayava | Not applicable |
| Papaya | Carica papaya | Papaw |
| Custard apple | Anona spp. | Includes sour sop, sweet sop, bullock’s heart |
| Prickly pear | Opuntia ficus indica | Indian fig cactus |
| Rose hip | Rosa canina | Rose berry, rose haw |
| Sapodilla | Achras sapota | Naseberry, sapodilla plum |
| Carambola | Averrhoa carambola | Star apple, star fruit |
| Durian | Durio zibethinus | Durion |
| Jack fruit | Artocarpus heterophylla | Jack |
| Chayote | Sechium edule | Not applicable |
| Rambutan | Nephelium lappaceum | Not applicable |
| Tamarillo | Cyphomandra betacea | Tree tomato |
| Tamarinde | Tamarindus indica | Tamarind |
Pulses
| Pulses | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Dried pea | Pisum sativum | Includes whole dried pea, split pea |
| Chickpea | Cicer arietinum | (whole or split) Bengal gram, garbanzo, ceci |
| Pigeon pea | Cajanus cajun | Not applicable |
| Dried broad bean | Vicia faba | Not applicable |
| Lentil | Lens esculenta | Varieties: green, orange, yellow, puy, Indian brown |
| Lablab bean | Dolichos lablab | Hyacinth bean |
| Common bean | Phaseolus vulgaris | Not applicable |
| Dried lima bean | Phaseolus lunatis | Dried butter bean |
| Aduki bean | Phaseolus angularis | Adzuki bean |
| Mung bean | Phaseolus aureus | Green gram, golden gram |
| Urd bean | Phaseolus mungo | Black gram |
| Black eye bean | Vigna unguiculata | Blackeye pea, chloris, cowpea |
| Soya beans | Glycine max | Chinese black bean, Manchurian bean, Soybean |
| Carob fruit | Ceratonia siliqua | Carob bean, locust bean |
| Lupins or lupines | Lupinus spp | Not applicable |
Leaf vegetables
| Leaf vegetables | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Endive | Cichorum endivia | Includes curly endive, batavian endive, radicchio |
| Lettuce | Lactuca sativa | Includes iceberg lettuce, cabbage lettuce, cos lettuce, leaf lettuce |
| Lamb’s lettuce | Valerianella olitoria | Corn salad, mâche |
| Swiss chard | Beta vulgaris var cicla | Chard, silver beet, seakale beet, leaf beet, includes spinach beet, ruby and rhubarb beet |
| Spinach | Spinacia oleracea | Spinage |
| Garden orache | Atriplex hortensis | Orach |
| Cress seedling | Lepidium sativum | Not applicable |
| Mustard seedling | Sinapis alba | Not applicable |
| Land cress | Barbarea verna | American cress, winter cress |
| Watercress | Nasturtium officinale | Not applicable |
| Vine leaf | Vitis vinifera | Not applicable |
| Dandelion leaf | Taraxacum officinalis | Not applicable |
| Nettle | Urtica dioica | Perennial nettle |
| Sorrel | Rumex spp. | Sour grass, includes common sorrel, French sorrel |
| Purslane | Portulaca oleracea | Not applicable |
| Parsley | Petroselinum crispum | Not applicable |
Brassicas
| Brassicas | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Broccoli | Brassica oleracea var italica | Not applicable |
| Broccoli tops | Brassica oleracea var italica | Mainly leaves |
| Cauliflower | Brassica oleracea var botrytis | Not applicable |
| Cabbage | Brassica oleracea var capitata alber | Includes white cabbage, spring greens |
| Red cabbage | Brassica oleracea var capitata rubra | Not applicable |
| Chinese cabbage | Brassica oleracea var pekinensis | Celery cabbage |
| Cabbage penca | Not applicable | Not applicable |
| Brussels sprouts | Brassica oleracea var gemmifera | Not applicable |
| Brussels tops | Brassica oleracea var gemmifera | Cabbage-like top of plant |
| Turnip tops | Brassica rapa var rapifera | Not applicable |
| Kohlrabi | Brassica oleracea var gongylodes | Turnip cabbage |
| Curly kale | Brassica oleracea var acephala | Borecole |
Stalk vegetables
| Stalk vegetables | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Celery | Apium graveolens var dulce | Not applicable |
| Fennel | Foeniculum vulgare var dulce | Florence fennel |
| Sea kale | Crambe maritima | Not applicable |
| Rhubarb | Rheum rhaponticum | Pie-plant |
Shoot vegetables
| Shoot vegetables | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Asparagus | Asparagus officinalis var altilis | Not applicable |
| Chicory | Cichorium intybus | Belgian or white chicory, witloof |
| Globe artichoke | Cynara scalymus | French artichoke, leafy artichoke |
| Bamboo shoot | Bambusa spp. | Not applicable |
| Palm heart | Palmaceae spp. | Not applicable |
Onion-family vegetables
| Onion-family vegetable | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Onion | Allium cepa | Includes pickling onion, red onion, Spanish onion |
| Spring onion | Allium cepa | Not applicable |
| Shallot | Allium ascalonicum | Not applicable |
| Leek | Allium ampeloprasum var porrum | Not applicable |
| Garlic | Allium sativum | Not applicable |
| Chives | Allium schoenoprasum | Chive garlic |
Root vegetables
| Root vegetables | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Carrot | Daucus carota | Not applicable |
| Salsify | Scorzonera hispanica | Vegetable oyster, includes scorzonera (black salsify) |
| Celeriac | Apium graveolens var rapaceum | Not applicable |
| Parsnip | Pastinaca sativa | Not applicable |
| Turnip | Brassica rapa var rapifera | Not applicable |
| Swede | Brassica napus var napobrassica | Rutabaga, Swedish turnip, yellow turnip |
| Radish | Raphanus sativus | Includes red radish, white radish, black radish, daikon radish |
| Beetroot | Beta vulgaris var conditiva | Red beet |
| Parsley root | Petroselinum crispum var tuberosus | Parsley potato, Hamburg parsley |
Fruit vegetables
| Fruit vegetables | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Lycopersicum esculentum | Peruvian apple |
| Aubergine | Solanum melongena | Egg plant |
| Sweet pepper | Capsicum annuum var grossum | Bell pepper, capsicum pepper, includes, various coloured forms |
| Chilli pepper | Capsicum frutescens | Pimento |
| Cucumber | Cucumis sativa | Not applicable |
| Courgette | Cucurbita pepo | Zucchini, includes marrow (mature) |
| Cucurbita squash | Cucurbita spp. | Includes acorn squash, spaghetti squash, custard squash, golden nugget, pumpkin |
| Other gourds | Cucurbitaceae spp. | Includes ash gourd, bottle gourd, butternut squash, chayote, snake squash |
| Ackee | Blighia sapida | Akee, akee apple |
| Avocado | Persea americana | Alligator pear |
| Olive | Olea europaea | Not applicable |
Pod and seed vegetables
| Pod vegetables | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Mangetout | Pisum sativum var macrocarpon | Snow pea, sugar pea |
| French bean | Phaseolus vulgaris | Green bean |
| Runner bean | Phaseolus coccineus | Green bean, string bean |
| Black eye bean pods | Vigna unguiculata | Blackeye pea, chloris, cowpea |
| Asparagus bean | Vigna unguiculata sesquipedalis | Yardlong bean, Chinese longbean |
| Winged bean | Psophocarpus tetragonolobus syn Lotus tetragonolobus | Asparagus pea |
| Pea | Pisum sativum | Green and garden pea |
| Broad bean | Vicia faba | Faba bean, field bean, horse bean |
| Wax beans | Phaseolus lunatis | Butter bean, lima bean |
| French bean | Phaseolus vulgaris | Green bean |
| Runner beans | Phaseolus coccineus | Green bean, string bean |
| Sweet corn | Zea mays | Sweet maize, includes baby corn (immature) |
| Okra | Hibiscus esculentus | Gumbo, ladyfinger, okro |
Edible fungi
| Edible fungi | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Cultivated mushroom | Agaricus bisporus | Includes button mushroom, cup mushroom, open mushroom |
| Field mushroom | Agaricus spp. | Not applicable |
| Honey mushroom | Armillaria mellea | Honey agaric, Honey fungus |
| Boletus | Boletus (and other) spp. | Includes yellow boletus, red boletus, rough stemmed boletus, ringed boletus |
| Truffle | Tuber melanosporum | Swine bread |
| Morel | Morchella esculanta | Not applicable |
| Cantharelle | Cantharellus cibarius | Not applicable |
| Orange agaric | Lactarius deliciosus | Saffron milk-cap |
| Oyster mushroom | Pleurotus ostreatus | Not applicable |
| Shiitake mushroom | Lentinus edodes | Not applicable |
| Straw mushroom | Volvaria volvaria | Not applicable |
Seaweeds and algae
| Seaweeds and algae | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Irish moss | Chondrus crispus | Carrageen moss |
| Kombu | Laminaria spp. | Not applicable |
| Laver | Porphyra spp. | Includes sea lettuce, nori (Japanese laver) |
Tubers
The definition for fruit and vegetables excludes tubers (including potatoes) as follows.
| Tubers | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| New potato | Solanum tuberosum | Not applicable |
| Main-crop potato | Solanum tuberosum | Not applicable |
| Jerusalem artichoke | Helianthus tuberosus | Root artichoke |
| Sweet potato | Ipomea batatas | Not applicable |
| Yam | Dioscorea spp. | Not applicable |
| Cassava | Manihota esculenta | Tapioca, manioc, manihot |
| Taro | Colocasia spp. | Not applicable |
Coconut
When calculating NPM points for coconut, you can include:
- fresh coconut flesh
- coconut ‘water’ (the liquid in the centre of the coconut)
- coconut ‘milk’ (the liquid extracted from the pulp or flesh)
You should score desiccated and dried block coconut in the same way as dried fruit and vegetable products (see the section on dried fruit and vegetables in the technical guidance).
You should not include coconut products that are far removed from the original coconut and go beyond it being juiced or dried - for example, coconut oil.
Definition of nuts and seeds
To estimate the amount of nuts and seeds in a product when applying the NPM 2018, use the definitions set out in this section as a guide to what is included. It is based on an adaptation of the Eurocode 2 system for defining what counts as nuts and seeds.
The NPM 2004 to 2005 included nuts. The NPM 2018 also includes seeds because seeds and nuts are comparable in terms of nutritional composition.
Nuts
| Nuts | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Walnut | Juglans regia | Not applicable |
| Hazelnut | Corylus avellana | Not applicable |
| Filbert | Corylus maxima | Not applicable |
| Coconut | Cocos nucifera | Cokernut |
| Brazil nut | Bertholletia excelsa | Paranut, cream nut |
| Hickory nut | Carya illinoensis | Pecan nut |
| Cashew nut | Anacardium occidentale | Not applicable |
| Almond, sweet | Prunus amygalus dulcis | Not applicable |
| Almond, bitter | Prunus amygalus amara | Not applicable |
| Pistachio nut | Pistacia vera | Not applicable |
| Sweet chestnut | Castanea vulgaris | Not applicable |
Underground pulses
| Underground pulses | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Peanut | Arachis hypogea | Groundnut, monkey nut |
Seed and kernels
| Seed and kernels | Scientific name | Synonym or similar product |
|---|---|---|
| Linseed | Linum usitatisimum | Flaxseed |
| Sunflower seed | Helianthus annus | Not applicable |
| Poppy seed | Papaver somniferum | Not applicable |
| Sesame seed | Sesamus indicum | Not applicable |
| Pumpkin seed | Cucurbita pepo | Not applicable |
| Chia seed | Salvia hispanica | Not applicable |
| Pine nut | Pinus pinea | Not applicable |