Many Danes – especially children – consume far more than recommended in the guideline advice. The Danish Veterinary, Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Agency recommend that intake of discretionary foods should not exceed five handfuls per week. Danes typically consume 10-25 handfuls per week.
Among adults aged 15-80 years, intake is highest on weekdays. For children aged 4–10 years, intake peaks at weekends, while intake among 11-14-year-olds is roughly the same on weekdays and at weekends.
“These figures show that sweet and salty foods are not just a weekend habit. For many people, it has become a routine throughout the week, and that quickly pushes intake above what there is room for if you want to eat in line with the dietary guidelines,” says Caroline Filskov Petersen, DTU National Food Institute.
The findings are presented in the new report Danes’ intake of confectionery, snacks and sweet beverages. Results from the National Survey of Danish Diet and Physical Activity (DANSDA) 2021–2024 from DTU National Food Institute.
Children have the highest intake – and compliance is low
Children in particular drive intake upwards. Among 7-10-year-olds, typical intake is 25 handfuls per week, while among 71–80-year-olds it is 10 handfuls per week.
The report also shows that only a small share across age groups stays within the recommendation. This applies to 1-3% of 4-14-year-olds, 10% of adults aged 15-70 years, and 18% of 71-80-year-olds.
Compliance is higher for sweet beverages, but age plays a major role. 17% of 11-14-year-olds stay within the recommendation, compared with 72% of 71-80-year-olds when alcohol is not included.
A sizeable share of weekly energy intake
Measured as energy, confectionery, snacks and sweet beverages account for 12–30% of total energy intake. That is two to six times higher than the level recommended in the dietary guidelines.
Among adults, alcohol also contributes energy. Alcohol accounts for 2–6% of total energy intake, and when alcohol is included in the overall intake, adults obtain a total of 20–23% of their energy from confectionery and snacks as well as sweet and alcoholic beverages.
“When we talk about diet, the overall pattern matters. A high intake of confectionery, snacks and sweet beverages does not just add extra calories. It can also push vegetables, whole grains and other nutrient-rich foods into the background,” says Caroline Filskov Petersen, DTU National Food Institute.
Intake has increased since the previous national dietary survey
Children’s and adults’ (4-70 years) intake of confectionery and snacks has increased since the last dietary survey in 2011–2013 by 20-31% for children and 10-30% for adults. Among those over 70 years, intake has decreased by 16-38%.
For sweet beverages, intake has decreased among children (11-25%) and among adult men (15%) but has increased by 20% among women.
Overall, the report points to a need for prevention and to look at the frameworks shaping intake – including marketing aimed at children and portion sizes.
About the data
The report is based on the National Survey of Danish Diet and Physical Activity (DANSDA) 2021–2024 and includes 3,824 participants (aged 4-80 years) who completed a seven-day food diary. In total, 14,527 people were invited, and 26% submitted a valid seven-day food diary.
Limitations: For comparisons with 2011-2013, only data for people aged 4-75 years from 2021-2024 were used. The comparison should be interpreted with caution, as the definition of discretionary foods is more detailed in the new survey, where many more foods are classified as discretionary foods than previously. The figures are therefore not directly comparable one-to-one, but they indicate the direction of change.
Read more
See also DTU National Food Institute’s thematic site on nutrition and dietary habits.
