FSAI advises against plant-based dairy substitutes for teenagers

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued its first scientific report on dietary guidance for adolescents aged between 9 and 18. The document was prepared by the authority’s Scientific Committee and covers nutritional needs that can differ according to age, body size, sex and physical activity.

The committee said plant-based dairy replacements were not recommended because of their nutritional composition and the need to add calcium and other micronutrients. Where a substitute is required, including for adolescents with lactose intolerance, it identified calcium-fortified soya drinks as the preferable option for males. For females, it recommended products fortified with both calcium and iodine.

The report said protein requirements could be met even when meat consumption was reduced in quantity or frequency. Protein targets were described as “easily achieved”, and the committee said protein powders, shakes and similar supplementary drinks were not necessary to meet them.

Adolescents generally have high energy needs, although the amount varies substantially between individuals. In the dietary patterns modelled by the FSAI, 15% contained more than 3,000 kilocalories a day. Foods such as cereals, bread, potatoes, pasta and rice were identified as the main sources of energy for physical activity, with guidance ranging from six to 10 servings daily and reaching 13 servings for some adolescents.

The guidance calls for four to five daily servings from the milk, yoghurt and cheese group to support calcium intake. It also recommends eating oily fish once a week to provide the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA, which the committee said can otherwise be difficult to obtain. All adolescents were advised to take a vitamin D supplement, with the required amount depending on age, ethnicity and the time of year.

FSAI chief executive Greg Dempsey said the recommendations reflected current eating habits among adolescents in Ireland while also taking environmental sustainability into account. Kevin Cashman, who chaired the authority’s Public Health Nutrition Subcommittee during preparation of the report, said nutritional requirements were especially high during adolescence. He said children acquire about 40% of their eventual bone mass, 50% of their adult weight and 20% of their adult height during this period, while stressing that needs can vary significantly even among people of the same age.