Care home menus in the north east exceed the dietary reference values for total fat, saturated fat and sodium whilst providing insufficient carbohydrate, non-starch polysaccharides, vitamin D and selenium

Dietary reference values (DRVs) for older adults, aged over 65 years, are aimed at meeting the requirements of healthy individuals. The continual annual increase in the number of older people in the UK and throughout the world will result in an increased demand for care homes to accommodate those unable to live independently. It is essential to evaluate whether the food provided by these establishments meets the DRVs. Studies have been conducted to assess the nutritional status of individuals within care homes. However, studies evaluating the overall nutrient provision within these institutions is lacking. Consequently, in the present study, menus from care homes across the north east of England (n=14) were analysed to determine whether the macro- and micro-nutrients provided met the DRVs.