Food-Based Dietary Guidelines around the World: A Comparative Analysis to Update AESAN Scientific Committee Dietary Recommendations

Abstract

Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDG) include dietary recommendations based on food groups according to the general and accepted nutrition principles and current scientific evidence. Adoption of FBDG contributes to the prevention of malnutrition in all its forms, promotes human health, and reduces environmental impact. The present review aims to perform an international comparative analysis of the FBDG adopted in different countries from three different continents (America, Asia, and Europe), with particular reference to the Spanish Food Safety and Nutrition Agency (AESAN, Agencia Española de Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición) Scientific Committee dietary recommendations. A total of twelve countries with the most updated FBDG and/or closest to the traditional and cultural preferences of Spain were finally selected. All the reviewed FBDG provided recommendations for fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes, nuts, milk and dairy products, meat and derivatives, fish, eggs, water, and oil; however, remarkable differences regarding recommended amounts were found among countries.

Maternal Consumption of Milk or Dairy Products During Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis

“…It suggests that there appears to be an optimal dose of dairy consumption during pregnancy for BL promotion, which may be a novel finding in contrast to prior studies ( 15 – 17 ). According to the global review of food-based dietary guidelines by Cámara et al, ( 63 ) the recommended intake of dairy products ranged from about two to four servings per day. At this dose range, our pooled curve shows a slow increase in BW, but the effect on BL cannot be estimated because the dose is outside the predicted limit of the BL curve.…”

Evaluation of Dietary Intake and Anthropometric Status in 1–9-Year-Old Children Living in Serbia: National Food Consumption Survey according to the EU Menu Methodology

“…The WHO, FAO, and EFSA encourages member states do develop national FBDG using a multi-disciplinary stepwise approach with a particular focus on the diet–disease relationships relevant to the population of interest [ 53 ]. Well-designed, carefully structured dietary guidelines that take into account generally established nutritional principles, environmental impact, and current scientific evidence are a prerequisite for the development of policies aimed at shifting the consumption patterns of children towards healthier directions, thereby ensuring long-term beneficial effects and the prevention of diet-related diseases later in life [ 54 , 55 , 56 ].…”

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