Food Standards Scotland seeks a provider to conduct dietary surveys and analyses, focusing on ethnic minority groups and the environmental impact of diets, using the Intake24 method over a potential five-year period.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) is the public sector food body for Scotland. Our vision is a food and drink environment that benefits, protects and is trusted by consumers. We are here to make sure that food is safe to eat, ensure consumers know what they are eating, and improve the extent to which they have diets that are conducive to good health. The Nutrition Programme includes a dietary surveillance work stream to monitor and report progress towards the Scottish Dietary Goals (SDGs). FSS are looking to award a contract to a provider who can conduct dietary surveys and analysis over a period of three (3) years with the option to extend up to a further 24 months, starting September 2026. FSS are considering a single service provider to deliver this requirement, however one organisation may not be able to fulfil all elements of this requirement alone. As a result, would welcome and encourage consortium approaches or sub-contracting to ensure that the right blend of expertise is available.
FSS's primary method for assessing dietary intake in Scotland is via an online, multiple pass dietary assessment method known as Intake24, which has been used to collect data as part of the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS) since 2021. This provides FSS with robust dietary intake data in a representative sample of the Scottish population, linked with demographic and health data collected in the main SHeS survey allowing us to monitor progress towards the SDGs. Although representative of the whole of Scotland, SHeS does not allow FSS to take a close look at the dietary intake of smaller groups of interest e.g. minority groups. Conducting additional surveys in specific population groups in Scotland, using Intake24, would allow FSS to further investigate dietary intakes in these groups. The provider will complete a range of projects in the field of surveys and analysis, including but not limited to: - Designing, conducting and analysing a survey on ethnic minority groups in Scotland using Intake24. - Conducting analysis on retail and out of home purchase of food and drink in Scotland. - Research considering the wider environmental impact diet has on food systems. - Research incorporating qualitative measures to provide a mixed methods approach building on quantitative research. - To conduct literature reviews as required by FSS.