The Official Dietary Guidelines – good for health and climate

For the first time ever Denmark's Official Dietary Guidelines, published in January 2021, do not only guide Danes on how to eat healthier, but also on how to eat with a lower climate footprint.

The Official Dietary Guidelines - good for health and climate are:

  • Eat plant-rich, varied and not too much
  • Eat more vegetables and fruit
  • Eat less meat – choose legumes and fish
  • Eat wholegrain foods
  • Choose vegetable oils and low-fat dairy products
  • Eat less sweet, salty and fatty food
  • Thirsty? Drink water

Booklet and poster

Click here for the poster with The officiel Dietary Guidelines.

Click here for the dietary guidelines in Danish.

Background

The development process was initiated in 2020 and was led by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration who was responsible for the process. 

The work was based on a scientific evidence report ‘Guidance for sustainable healthy diets - Scientific background for revising the Danish food-based dietary guidelines’ published by the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) in February 2020. 

I addition, the evidence report behind the previous dietary guidelines The evidence-base for the Danish guidelines for diet and physical activity (2013) was also included as background material, as well as the Nordic Nutrition Recommendations (NNR) 2012, Integrating Nutrition and physical activity (2014). 

The development process involved workshops and dialogue with a broad range of stakeholders including the Danish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, the Danish Health Authority, the National Food Institute at the Technical University of Denmark, consumer organizations, non-governmental organizations as well as the food - and retail industry.

The development process also included a pre-test of understanding and interpretation of the dietary guidelines among Danish consumers.

In 2023, a new version of NNR was published with updated values for nutrient requirements as well as advices for intake of different food groups, which also integrates environmental sustainability. Therefore, the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU) made ‘An update of the scientific background for the Official Dietary Guidelines in relation to the Nordic Nutrient Recommendations 2023’ (2024). The official Dietary Guidelines are thus in accordance with NNR 2023.

Additional information

Denmark published its first set of dietary guidelines in the 1970s. They were revised in 1995, 2005, 2008 and 2013. In 2021 they were revised again, integrating a focus on both health and climate.

The Official Dietary Guidelines – good for health and climate (published 2021) were developed in a process led by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, under the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. It also involved the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities, the Danish Health Authority, the National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, consumer organizations, non-governmental organizations and the food- and retail industry.

The dietary guidelines are endorsed by the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries.