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Nuts, Seeds and Dried Fruit Poised to Play Vital Role in Tackling UK’s Health Crisis as new Consensus Calls for Clear Dietary Recommendations and Reassessment of Misleading Dental Guidelines
A new expert-led initiative commissioned by Whitworths, and convened by the British Nutrition Foundation, urges urgent action to elevate the role of nuts, seeds and dried fruit (collectively DFNS) in the UK’s dietary landscape. Following a series of expert roundtables spanning science, behaviour change, and public policy, the findings present a clear, evidence-backed consensus: the UK should be eating more nuts, seeds and dried fruit—every day.
With diet-related disease now the leading cause of death and disability in the UK, and national fibre intake far below recommended levels, experts agree DFNS offers an immediate, practical solution. These nutrient-rich foods can help close the fibre gap, support healthy weight management, deliver essential vitamins and minerals, and crucially, displace high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) foods.
Elaine Hindal, Chief Executive of the British Nutrition Foundation, said:
“In partnership with Whitworths, our recent roundtables have shown that dried fruit, nuts and seeds offer a powerful, practical opportunity to support better public health. There is clear appetite across sectors to see these foods play a greater role in helping to close the fibre gap and support healthier dietary patterns.”
Despite being included in UK dietary models like the Eatwell Guide, there are no clear guidelines on how much to consume—unlike in countries such as Germany, Spain, and Italy, where daily recommendations of 20–30g of nuts are already established. The report also highlights growing support for integrating nuts and seeds into the UK’s “5 A Day” messaging, or moving toward a “5 A Day +1” model to reflect the unique health benefits of these foods.
Consumer confusion remains a significant barrier—particularly around calorie content, allergy risks, and outdated dental guidance limiting dried fruit consumption to mealtimes only. The report challenges this restriction directly, citing a lack of robust evidence and calling for a reassessment of current dental health advice.
Commenting on the findings, Whitworths Director of Health, Phil Gowland said:
“The science is clear: nuts, seeds and dried fruit are underutilised tools in our national fight against poor diet and related chronic disease. We now have consensus that these foods should be consumed daily, and it’s time to see that reflected in official guidelines. At Whitworths, we’re committed to working with retailers, policymakers and shoppers to make these foods more accessible, better understood, and a staple in everyday diets.”
The report calls for targeted public messaging, retailer trials to shift shopper habits, and increased collaboration across sectors to embed DFNS in everyday consumption patterns. Importantly, the BNF stresses that action must not wait for policy reform—positive change is both urgent and achievable now.