European Food-Based Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Search and Scoping Review of Recommendations and Methodology

This review aimed to compare recommendations, publication type, number of age groups and food groups, and development processes of European food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs) for children and adolescents. FBDGs can vary greatly by country. An overview of developmental processes, including recent methodological advancements, and age-specific food intake recommendations of FBDGs for children and adolescents in Europe is missing. Scientific databases, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) repository, and websites of European nutrition and health institutes were searched for documents on FBDGs for children and adolescents (1–18 years), published in all languages between January 1, 2002, and October 25, 2022. Data extraction and data coding included variables on age and food groups, sustainability, plant-based diets, quantitative recommendations on food intake, and FBDG development processes. Of 9385 identified documents, 110 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Among 51 European countries, FBDGs referencing children or adolescents were identified in 43 countries. Eleven of those countries primarily addressed the adult population but considered their recommendations also appropriate for children and adolescents. ... mehrThirty-two countries had age-group–specific FBDGs, which covered between 1 and 8 age groups (median = 3) and between 2 and 13 food groups (median = 7). Of those, 10 countries provided information on sustainability, 10 on plant-based diets (not specified), and 18 and 15 countries addressed vegetarian and vegan diets, respectively. Wide ranges of recommended mean values for food intake were identified for almost all age and food groups among countries. With regard to FBDG development processes, only 15.6% (5/32) of countries published journal articles and 25.0% (8/32) scientific reports. Overall, European FBDGs for children and adolescents are heterogeneous in food and age groups, recommendations on intake of food groups, information on plant-based diets and FBDG development processes, pointing to a need for harmonizing the development of FBDGs for children and adolescents.