Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)

SACN advises on nutrition and related health matters. It advises the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and other UK government organisations.

Announcements

The following SACN documents were recently published:

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.

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 August 2023) 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

2025 meeting dates: 13 March, 12 June and 13 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

Subgroup on Maternal and Child Nutrition (SMCN)

View details on the SMCN subgroup and its work.

Meetings

2025 meeting dates: 5 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.

Meetings

2025 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.

Meetings

2025 meeting dates: 5 February.

Meetings are held in closed session.

View minutes of the maternal health working group.

Joint SACN and Committee on Toxicity (COT) working group on plant-based drinks

View details on the plant-based drinks working group and its work.

Meetings

2025 meeting dates: to be confirmed.

Meetings are held in closed session.

View minutes of the joint SACN and COT working group on plant-based drinks.

Vitamin D working group

View details on the vitamin D working group and its work.

Meetings

2025 meeting dates: to be confirmed.

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:

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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