To investigate the relationship between self-perceived overall dietary healthfulness and self-reported sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption among young adult Latinas, accounting for socio-economic and acculturation-related factors.

Cross-sectional analysis using survey data. SSB intake was assessed using the BEVQ-15, and dietary self-perception was measured via a two-item scale. Multiple linear regression models examined associations between self-perception and total daily SSB intake, adjusting for income, education and two validated acculturation indicators.

Participants were recruited from a national online panel across the USA.

A total of 881 Latina women aged 18–29 years participated. After removing cases with invalid outcome responses and outliers, 840 and 829 were included in descriptive and regression analyses.

Better dietary self-perception was significantly associated with greater total SSB intake in both unadjusted (B = 1·74, P = 0·048) and fully adjusted models (B = 2·10, P = 0·017). Lower income (B = –0·64, P = 0·031) and lower education (B = –0·77, P = 0·026) were also associated with higher intake. Acculturation variables were NS. Subcategory models showed positive associations between self-perception and sweet tea (B = 0·99, P < 0·001) and black coffee/tea with sugar (B = 0·51, P < 0·01) and a marginal inverse association with soft drinks (B = –0·47, P = 0·060).

Young Latinas who perceive their diets as healthy may consume more added sugar from beverages than recommended. Public health efforts should address this perception gap and emphasise culturally relevant messaging about hidden sugars in commonly consumed drinks.

To assess knowledge and perceptions of low-carbohydrate and intermittent fasting diets among UK-based Pakistani and Bangladeshi individuals for type 2 diabetes prevention and management.

A cross-sectional survey.

The survey was administered online using Jisc Online Surveys.

Pakistani and Bangladeshi adults aged 18 and over who had lived in the UK for at least 1 year.

A total of 304 participants took part in the survey, of which 77 % (n 234) were females and 80·3 % (n 244) were Pakistanis. Intermittent fasting diets appeared to be somewhat more acceptable (n 107, 36 %) than low-carbohydrate diets (n 68, 22·8 %). Participants showed generally good dietary knowledge of carbohydrates and type 2 diabetes, although some gaps were identified. Key barriers to dietary change included reluctance to alter established eating habits as well as low motivation. Age, education and living arrangements were significant predictors of dietary knowledge and dietary preferences.

These findings support carrying out future research to test culturally tailored interventions, with particular attention to intermittent fasting approaches. Multidisciplinary interventions that involve family members, offer flexible meal timing and present dietary guidance within familiar cultural contexts may improve acceptability and adherence and lead to long-term sustained benefits.

To quantify ultra-processed food (UPF) intake in Scotland, identify key contributing food groups and examine sociodemographic associations using nationally representative data.

Cross-sectional analysis of 2021 Scottish Health Survey data using 2-d dietary recalls via Intake24 classified by NOVA. UPF intake was calculated as percentage of total energy intake (%TEI) and grams per day (g/d). Multivariable linear regression assessed associations with sex, age, ethnicity, income, socio-economic classification, highest educational qualification, urban–rural location, region and Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) quintiles.

Nationally representative sample of Scottish households.

Individuals aged 16 years or over with complete dietary and sociodemographic data (n 2645).

Mean energy intake was 1637·8 kcal/d (95 % CI 1615·8, 1659·8). Mean UPF consumption was 666·9 g/d (95 % CI 647·9, 685·9), amounting to 919·9 kcal/d (95 % CI 901·1, 938·6), representing 55·4 % of TEI (95 % CI 54·7, 56·2) and 28·2 % of total food weight. The main contributors to UPF intake were cereal products (244·8 kcal/d, 27·0 % of UPF kcal), confectionery (170·3 kcal/d, 17·9 %) and meats (153·6 kcal/d, 16·2 %). Sandwiches (99·9 % UPF), salty snacks (94·1 %) and dietary supplements (90·5 %) showed highest UPF proportions by food groups. Adjusted analyses revealed greater UPF consumption (%TEI) among males (β = −3·3, P < 0·001), younger adults (β = −2·8 per decade, P < 0·001), White participants (β = +12·9 v. non-White, P < 0·001) and lower SIMD quintile (β = −1·8 per quintile, P < 0·001). Similar patterns emerged for absolute intake (g/d).

UPF dominates Scotland’s diet, with inequitable distribution across sociodemographic groups. Policy actions – such as adopting NOVA in dietary guidelines and restricting UPF marketing – are urgently needed to address this public health crisis.

To assess the biodiversity richness of plant foods of the Italian Food Composition Database (IFCDB) at the species and below the species level and its evolution over time.

The biodiversity richness of plant foods in the IFCDB was assessed by counting the number of species and by identifying and categorising biodiverse plant foods, i.e. foods described below the species level (subspecies, variety and cultivar) as well as wild and neglected and underutilised species. This assessment was also performed with the FAO Biodiversity Indicator.

This study analysed the current IFCDB that contains 900 records of food items, with 80 % of data derived from analytical determinations.

The 2019 IFCDB’s edition includes 114 plant species; among thirty two of them, one or more biodiverse foods were identified for a total of eighty-six records, corresponding to 21 % of the plant foods recorded. This marks a substantial increase from the 2000’s edition, which included 112 plant species and forty-eight biodiverse foods, corresponding to 16 % of the plant foods recorded.

The IFCDB demonstrates progress in integrating plant food biodiversity, crucial for promoting sustainable diets and, consequently, sustainable food systems. Enhanced access to food composition data of biodiverse plant foods is required for the development and labelling of biodiverse processed plant foods and to increase the biodiversity richness of menus in community catering. This study may stimulate efforts in assessing and enhancing biodiversity richness of food composition tables in other countries.

To analyze the global cancer burden associated with dietary factors across 204 countries and regions from 1990 to 2019.

A population-based study.

Global Burden of Disease Study.

Using data from the 2019 global burden of disease, we calculated Population Attributable Fractions (PAFs), death and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). A comparative risk assessment framework was employed, along with estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs).

In 2019, approximately 6·01 % of cancer mortality and 5·50 % of DALY rates can be attributed to dietary risk factors, particularly low intake of whole grains, milk, and fruits and vegetables. The High Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) region had the highest cancer mortality and DALY PAFs, mainly due to high consumption of red and processed meats, while the Low SDI region showed the highest PAFs from low fruit and vegetable consumption. In 2019, the High-middle SDI region had the highest age-standardized death rate (ASDR) and DALY rate attributable to dietary factors. Among geographic regions, Southern Latin America had the highest ASDR, and Central Europe had the highest age-standardized DALY rate. At the country level, Mongolia exhibited the highest rates for both ASDR and DALYs attributable to dietary risks. From 1990 to 2019, the largest increase in ASDR was observed in Western Sub-Saharan Africa, with Bulgaria showing the largest country-specific increase. Similarly, the largest increase in the age-standardized DALY rate was seen in Western Sub-Saharan Africa, with Lesotho experiencing the highest increase at the country level.

Our findings underscored the importance of increasing the consumption of whole grains, milk, and calcium, which can inform global dietary guidelines and cancer prevention strategies.

The present study aimed to investigate the association between adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and the risk of depression and anxiety severity in a large group of Iranian adults.

In this cross-sectional study, dietary intakes were assessed using a validated sixty-five-item FFQ. The Beck Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory II were used to assess anxiety and depression, respectively. Ordinal logistic regression was applied to evaluate the association between DASH diet and depression and anxiety severity.

Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD) study.

6537 and 6539 adults aged 35–65 years for depression and anxiety, respectively.

We found no significant association between adherence to the DASH diet and depression severity, in the total participants as well as both gender in either crude or fully adjusted models. Regarding anxiety, we found that men in the third tertile of DASH diet score had lower risk of experiencing more severe anxiety compared to those in the first tertile (OR: 0·80; 95 % CI: 0·67, 0·96). However, after controlling for potential confounders, this relationship became non-significant (OR: 0·89; 95 % CI: 0·74, 1·07). In the total participants as well as women, we failed to find any significant association between adherence to the DASH diet and anxiety severity either before or after controlling for possible confounders.

We found no significant association between adherence to DASH diet and depression and anxiety severity among adults.

The double burden of malnutrition (DBM) – the coexistence of undernutrition and overweight/obesity – poses a critical global health challenge, particularly for children and adolescents. School meal programmes offer an opportunity to address the DBM by providing nutritious meals that support growth, development and lifelong health. However, limited school meal quality data hinders effective programme design. This study evaluates global school meal quality through nutrient composition analyses and the Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS)-Meal and -Menu metrics.

Data were collected from the Global Child Nutrition Foundation’s 2024 Global Survey of School Meal Programs, grey literature and in-country stakeholders. Nutritional content was compared to age-specific Nutrient Reference Values, including Harmonized Average Requirements. The nutritional quality of meals and menus was assessed using GDQS metrics based on twenty-five food groups.

Twenty-nine countries across diverse geographic and socio-economic contexts.

Not applicable.

Most menus met or exceeded 30 % of recommended daily nutrient values. Lunches had the highest nutrient contributions, followed by snacks and breakfasts. GDQS-Meal and -Menu scores revealed variability across age groups, meal types and countries. Overall, 57 % of menus achieved high nutritional quality, 37 % medium and 6 % low. Few menus lost points for unhealthy components. Diverse, balanced menus with healthy food groups scored higher, though fortification also proved nutritionally valuable.

While most menus contribute significantly to daily nutrient needs, variability across countries, age groups and meal types highlights opportunities for context-specific improvements through diversification and fortification. Learning from high-performing peer programmes can help identify feasible improvements.

Identify dietary patterns among U.S. older adults and examine their associations with sociodemographic and health characteristics including economic and physical functioning-related food insecurity.

Secondary analysis of dietary intake data from the 2013–2018 What We Eat in America component of NHANES. Dietary patterns were derived using cluster analysis and compared by diet quality (Healthy Eating Index (HEI)-2020), demographic characteristics, health indicators and multidimensional food insecurity.

United States.

A nationally representative sample of 5062 adults aged ≥ 60 years

Five dietary patterns were identified. The largest pattern, ‘juices, smoothies, grain drinks and soups’ (53·0 %), was characterised by the lowest mean energy and protein intake and a moderate HEI-2020 score (66·0 ± 0·8). In contrast, the ‘cooked cereals and yogurt’ pattern (10·8 %) had the highest HEI-2020 score (72·3 ± 1·4) and more favourable health indicators. Patterns high in processed meats and baked goods – ‘cured meats, sandwiches and sweet bakery products’ (18·1 %) and ‘meats, alcohol and quick breads’ (11·0 %) – had the lowest diet quality scores (48·5 ± 1·0 and 58·3 ± 1·6, respectively) and were more common among younger older adults, males, current smokers and individuals with obesity. Food insecurity due to both economic constraints and physical functioning limitations was most prevalent in the lower-quality soft-food pattern and least prevalent in the ‘Seafood and vegetables’ pattern (0·5 %).

Distinct dietary patterns exist among U.S. older adults, with substantial variation in diet quality, health characteristics and food insecurity. Interventions should address both economic and functional barriers to support nutrient-dense, texture-appropriate diets in older adults.

Hyper-palatable foods (HPF) have strong reinforcing properties, and their presence in food stores may skew purchasing towards HPF, even when healthier foods are available. However, the availability of HPF in US food stores is unknown. The study aims were to (1) quantify the prevalence of HPF in US stores; (2) characterise US household expenditures on HPF per shopping occasion and (3) examine demographic and health characteristics associated with HPF purchasing.

Proprietary scanner data representing (1) foods available and sold in US food stores and (2) foods purchased during US household shopping occasions were analysed across 4 years (2015–2018).

N/a.

US food stores (> 34900 per year) provided weekly data on all foods/beverages available and sold. Samples of US households (> 45000 per year) used scanners to report all food/beverage purchases during their shopping occasions.

Across years, HPF comprised over two-thirds of foods available per store (M = 67·1 %; sd = 6·9) and of weekly sales (M = 70·4 %; sd = 9·0). HPF comprised the majority of foods purchased by households (M = 59·4 %; sd = 34·6) and on average accounted 60·3 % of household food expenditures (sd = 35·7) per shopping occasion. Health risk characteristics including self-reported type 2 diabetes diagnosis and self-reported obesity diagnosis were associated with significantly higher proportionate expenditures on HPF, relative to those without such diagnoses (beta values = 1·412–1·584; P values < 0·0001).

HPF comprised > 65 % of available foods in US food outlets. Household purchasing of HPF during shopping occasions closely paralleled HPF availability in stores.

Food literacy is a multidimensional concept capturing interrelated factors driving individuals’ food behaviours. Conceptualisation to date has focused on adults without considering developmental limitations of childhood. This scoping review clarifies conceptualisation and measurement of food literacy in late childhood and adolescence.

We searched the literature in seven electronic databases, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews for article screening and selection. We conducted an inductive content analysis to identify the primary dimensions and indicators of food literacy for children and adolescents and examined assessment of these dimensions in existing measurement tools.

Articles covering late childhood and adolescent populations.

Older children and adolescents (9–18 years).

The initial search in November 2023 yielded 1319 articles with thirteen meeting inclusion criteria, and a search update in February 2026 yielded four additional recently published articles for inclusion. We identified four dimensions and twenty-three reflective indicators of child and adolescent food literacy. Conceptualisation and measurement of food literacy in children to date have heavily emphasised dimensions pertaining to food systems and nutrition knowledge and confidence in everyday food skills relative to valuing shared food experiences and purposeful engagement with food.

Valuing shared food experiences and purposeful engagement with food are understudied dimensions of food literacy, despite evidence that they are important determinants of food behaviours. Future research should focus on further conceptual development and validation of age-appropriate indicators for these dimensions.

Global food systems have a key influence on both health and sustainability. Dietary shifts that promote health and sustainability are regarded as a critical synergistic pathway for advancing human and planetary health. In response, consumer interest in the sustainability of food systems has prompted the use of claims highlighting positive sustainability attributes displayed on-pack. This study assessed the prevalence and types of sustainability claims displayed on packaged food in Australia.

Claims data on packaged food were collected at five supermarkets in Sydney in 2024. We determined the prevalence of sustainability claims overall, by claim category and format (text or logo).

Australia.

None.

Over a third of products displayed at least one sustainability claim, the most prevalent being ‘natural’ and ‘vegan’. Text claims were far more prevalent than logos (84 % v 16 % of total claims identified on pack, respectively).

Frequent use of broad and unspecific sustainability claims raises challenges for substantiation, and there is a risk that consumers are being misled. Our findings support the need for stronger regulation, including criteria for terms used in claims, to improve consumer trust and comparability across products.

This study evaluated the consumption of rice and beans in Brazil, two staples of the Brazilian diet, by describing their consumption according to sociodemographic characteristics and assessing its association with nutritional quality, environmental impact and affordability of the diet.

Cross-sectional study.

Brazil.

We analysed food consumption data from 46 164 individuals aged 10 years and older, based on the most recent Household Budget Survey (2017–2018) in Brazil. The survey used a two-stage cluster sampling design and provides nationally representative data, covering all regions, states, metropolitan areas, capitals and urban and rural zones in Brazil.

In Brazil, rice and beans accounted for 10·75 % and 6·33 % of total daily energy intake, respectively. Their consumption was important across all sociodemographic groups analysed. Rice and beans intake was associated with higher nutritional quality, reduced environmental impact and lower diet costs. Higher combined consumption of rice and beans was associated with a 44·49 % reduction in nutritional inadequacies in the diet, a 17·64 % decrease in carbon footprint, a 21·05 % decrease in water footprint and a 38·03 % reduction in total diet cost, compared to lower consumption.

Promoting increased consumption of rice and beans in Brazil offers a culturally appropriate solution in response to the global call for healthier and more sustainable diets, and is the most effective approach to improve human health and environmental sustainability in an affordable way in Brazil.

To examine whether the number of parents using high levels of structure or coercive control food parenting practices is associated with children’s dietary intake.

Cross-sectional analysis of father–mother dyads from the Fathers & Families cohort study. Fathers and mothers independently reported their food parenting practices and child’s dietary intake. Multivariate logistic regression models estimated associations between the number of parents (0, 1 or 2) using high structure or coercive control practices and children’s intake of fruit, vegetables, fast food and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB), adjusting for demographics and recruitment site.

United States

474 father–mother dyads with a child aged 2–6 years

Structure, but not coercive control, was positively associated with vegetable intake. Compared with none, having one parent report high structure increased the odds of children consuming vegetables > once/day (adjusted OR (aOR) = 2·09; 95 % CI: (1·06, 4·54)); associations were stronger when both parents reported high structure. Structure was also associated with lower fast food and SSB intake frequency. Compared with none, having one parent report high structure increased the odds of children consuming fast food < once/week (aOR = 1·79; 95 % CI: (1·23, 2·62)) and limiting SSB to < once/week (aOR = 1·52; 95 % CI: (1·03, 2·23)); associations were stronger when both parents reported high structure. Compared with none, high coercive control by one (aOR = 0·69; 95 % CI: (0·49, 0·96)) or both parents (aOR = 0·57; 95 % CI: (0·33, 1·00)) was associated with lower odds of limiting SSB to < once/week.

Children’s dietary patterns were healthiest when both parents used structure-based food parenting practices. Coercive control from one or both parents was associated with greater SSB intake frequency.

This systematic review synthesises existing research on the relationship between dietary intake – specifically concerning food and beverage items promoted or restricted by US federal school nutrition policies – and child academic performance, a salient predictor of long-term health.

We used keywords to search three databases. Along with other inclusion criteria, studies had to assess and report (i) a measure of intake of food groups/nutrient promoted or restricted by US school nutrition policies; (ii) a measure of academic performance and (iii) a measure of the association between both.

We identified thirty-nine studies, all of which utilised observational designs, and seven of which were considered higher quality based off the Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-sectional Studies, published by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Thirty-five studies reported evidence that children had better academic outcomes when they had an increased intake of food groups and nutrient items promoted by school nutrition policies and/or a decreased intake of the food groups and nutrient items limited by school nutrition policies.

These findings suggest that food groups and nutrient items governed by or promoted in school nutrition policies may shape children’s learning and contribute to downstream social determinants of health. Research on the population-level influences of school nutrition policies on children’s academic outcomes is warranted.

Sri Lanka faces a double burden of malnutrition (DBM), characterised by the persistence of child undernutrition alongside rising rates of obesity and non-communicable diseases among women. This study aimed to quantify the prevalence of DBM and identify specific household, maternal and child-level risk factors associated with stunted child–overweight/obese mother pairs in Sri Lanka.

Data from the 2016 Sri Lanka Demographic and Health Survey were used to assess the risk of double-burden pairs through multinomial logistic regression, adjusting for individual, socio-economic and geographic factors. The primary outcome measures were child stunting, classified according to height-for-age Z-scores, and maternal BMI. Households with a stunted child and an overweight or obese mother were classified as having a DBM.

A nationally representative sample covering all geographic regions of Sri Lanka.

5975 mother–child pairs, comprising children aged 6–59 months and mothers aged 15–49 years with complete anthropometric data.

Overall, 8·3 % of households had a stunted child with an overweight mother, while 2·8 % had a stunted child and an obese mother. Child’s age, low birth weight, maternal age, household size, mode of delivery, wealth status and province of residence were significantly associated with the double burden among child–mother pairs (P < 0·001).

Ethnicity was also significant, with Muslim mothers more likely to reside in households experiencing DBM (P < 0·001).

DBM poses a critical nutritional challenge in Sri Lanka, necessitating comprehensive, integrated interventions targeting both child stunting and maternal overweight to improve health outcomes and reduce long-term disease risk at the household and population levels.