Health Council revises fat and carbohy­drate standards

The Health Council of the Netherlands is revising the dietary reference values for fats, fatty acids, digestible carbohydrates, and dietary fiber. This advisory report concludes the ongoing evaluation of Dutch dietary reference values. The standing Committee on Nutrition periodically reviews whether these reference values require adjustment. The revised standards define the intake levels considered beneficial to health.

Guidelines partly aligned with EFSA

The council is partly adopting the recommendations of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). For other topics, the council advises following more recent international reports. In a few cases, the committee is maintaining the current standards. Conducting this evaluation is a regular task of the Health Council.

Basis for dietary advice and monitoring

The new values are essential for sound dietary advice. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre (Voedingscentrum), dietitians, and healthcare professionals use these standards for their recommendations. Additionally, the figures serve to monitor nutrient intake among the Dutch population. The council published the advisory report along with a summary and an accompanying letter.

Gezondheidsraad.nl