Main SACN Meetings

Terms of Reference

SACN is an UK wide advisory committee set up to replace the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food and Nutrition Policy (COMA). It advises the UK Health Departments as well as the Food Standards Agency and is supported by a joint DH/FSA secretariat.

Its advice will cover scientific aspects of nutrition and health with specific reference to:

  • Nutrient content of individual foods and advice on diet as a whole including the definition of a balanced diet, and the nutritional status of people;
  • Monitoring and surveillance of the above;
  • Nutritional issues which affect wider public health policy issues including conditions where nutritional status is one of a number of risk factors (e.g. cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis and/or obesity);
  • Nutrition of vulnerable groups (e.g. infants and the elderly) and health inequality issues;
  • Research requirements for the above.

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