Appendix R - Food groups NI Report NDNS 2019-2023
Source: data.gov.uk (2025-10-10)

National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2017 to 2023 Report for Northern Ireland. This report presents results from 2017-2023 of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) for Northern Ireland. NDNS is a continuous cross-sectional survey, designed to assess the diet, nutrient intake and nutritional status of the general population aged 18 months and over living in private households in the UK.

Appendix R Primary and subsidiary 
food groups and disaggregation 
categories for NDNS 2019 to 2023 
For this NDNS 2019 to 2023 report (years 12 to 15) the food grouping system has been 
reviewed and a new structure has been implemented to better align with government public 
health priorities and monitoring requirements. The structure has also been considered in 
respect of wider use of the NDNS data, such as to enable exploration of diverse research 
questions and to facilitate cross-country data comparisons. 
 
Foods, drinks, and supplements in the NDNS Nutrient Databank (NDB) (UK_NDB_2, Years 
13 to 15) (n=3,486) were categorised into a 3-tier food group structure, referencing 
established systems including FoodEx2, FAO/WHO Gift, FoodEXplorer, and food grouping 
systems used by Food Standards Australia and New Zealand and US National Health and 
Nutrition Examination Survey. The consistency of food group names and structure across the 
new approach was maintained by aligning them with these systems, and by reviewing 
products on the food market and consumption rates among the NDNS population. The 
approach involved grouping the NDB foods according to various criteria, including 
distinctions such as added sugar, plant-based, meat-based, vegetable-based, wholegrain 
foods and complex dishes. The new food groups aimed to ensure similarity in consumption 
pattern and classification.  
 
The updated NDNS food grouping system comprises 18 main categories under which sit 47 
primary food groups (level 1) and 141 sub-groups (level 2) designed to facilitate primary 
requirements for the NDNS and government monitoring. Level 3 sub-groups (totalling 211) 
have been incorporated to support in-depth research requirements. The food groups were 
designated with a code (for example 1.1.), utilising a combination of numbers and a decimal 
point. The archived NDBs used for Years 12 to 15 will contain both the new and the previous 
food group structure for users’ reference. 
 
Table R.1 in the accompanying tables presents the new food groups. The ’Description’ 
column provides a summary of foods in each respective food group.  
 
Table R.2 presents the disaggregation categories. In order to determine total intakes of fruit, 
vegetables, meats and fish, all foods containing any of these food types have been 
systematically disaggregated into their components. For example, carrots may be eaten as 
an accompaniment to a main meal, but they may also be consumed as an ingredient within a 
stew, together with additional vegetables such as onions and celery. Disaggregated data 
allows the automated estimation of total intakes of fruit, vegetables, meat and fish in the 
NDNS, including the contribution from composite dishes. The disaggregation categories are 
unchanged from the NDNS Years 9 to 11 report. Specific foods within each disaggregation 
category are listed, however this may not be an exhaustive list of all foods available.