The government is considering introducing a sugar tax on food products. RIVM has examined two possible options for such a tax: one on products containing at least six grams of sugar per 100 grams (the 6% variant) and another on those containing at least 20 grams of sugar per 100 grams (the 20% variant). The study shows what proportion of the sugars consumed in the Netherlands would then be taxed.

Climate change, such as drought and extreme weather, has a major impact on European food systems. Technological developments, geopolitical unrest and conflicts also play an important role. This is shown by a literature review carried out by RIVM and international workshops held with policymakers, experts and representatives from industry and civil society.

The nutritional composition of food in supermarkets has improved slightly. This was found in RIVM’s first survey of food products, which examined items available for sale in 2025 and compared them with items from 2020. The survey shows that more work is needed in order to meet the 2030 targets for all product groups and nutrients.

In 2025, around 40 per cent of the kilos of products sold in supermarkets were in line with the Wheel of Five. PLUS and Jumbo scored approximately 38 per cent, with Albert Heijn and Aldi scoring 40 per cent and Lidl 45 per cent. This was revealed by an initial survey carried out by RIVM, Netherlands Nutrition Centre and Wageningen University & Research (WUR

There are opportunities for a nutrition policy that contributes both to public health and the environment. Existing measures from the National Prevention Agreement (NPA) and the new Coherent Prevention Strategy (SPS) may also have benefits for the environment.

Today, RIVM will publish the new edition of the Dutch Food Composition Database (Nederlands Voedingsstoffenbestand, NEVO). This contains information on the nutritional value of more than 2,300 food products, including their composition in terms of protein, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins.

Nearly 2 million people are estimated to have fallen ill from a foodborne infection in the Netherlands in 2024 – an increase of more than 100,000 people compared to 2023. These findings are from the new annual report about foodborne infections.

By late winter 2023, 7 to 26 per cent of the Dutch population had vitamin D deficiency. This is the outcome of a study conducted by RIVM. Because the Netherlands has so little sunlight in winter, this is when the so-called vitamin D status (amount of vitamin D in the body) is at its lowest.

More and more adults are drinking no alcohol, or no more than one glass a day. Whereas 38 per cent drank little to no alcohol in 2012, this percentage rose to 45 per cent in 2024.