Repeat analysis of the calorie content of sweet discretionary products in the out of home sector in Scotland – 2023

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) would like to make you aware of a new report A repeat analysis of the calorie content of sweet discretionary products in the out of home sector in Scotland – 2023 | Food Standards Scotland recently published by Food Standards Scotland. This research aimed to explore any changes in the calorie content of sweet discretionary products available out of home in Scotland between 2022 and 2023. 

Key findings:

• Overall, the average calorie content per portion of all sweet discretionary products gathered in 2023 (449 kcals) was slightly lower than in 2022 (465 kcals).

• A greater proportion of the products available in 2023 contained less than 325 kcals*, (23.8%) compared to 2022 (17.6%). However, more than three quarters (76.2%) of the 808 products were above the recommended maximum calories per portion.

• 68.8% of the 461 products available in both 2022 and 2023, had not changed in calorie contents. Of those that had changed, a higher proportion had decreased than increased in calories.

• Dessert drinks such as milkshakes, frappes and ice cream floats, were a new category explored in this report. They were found to contain an average of 451 kcals per portion, with 86.8% found to be above the recommended maximum calories per portion of 300 kcals**.

Although the results from the 2023 analysis demonstrated some reductions in the calorie content of sweet discretionary products through reformulation and/or reduced portion sizes, the findings highlight the profound scale of change required to bring out of home sweet discretionary products that are available in Scotland in line with government calorie recommendations.