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Summary of FBDG recommendations for potatoes for the EU, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom
Due care was taken to ensure factually correct information. Food groupings and food group names differ across individual FBDGs; the ones used here are a compromise to present the information in a structured way. Differences such as those in number of portions and portion sizes were kept unaltered. The original country FBDGs and the responsible national public health authorities remain the only qualified points of reference.
Country | Quantitative recommendations | Qualitative recommendations | Portion size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belgium | - | - | - |
| Note: Boiled or steamed potatoes are recommended as part of a balanced diet, provided that the whole-grain intake is sufficient | |||
| Bulgaria | - | Consume potatoes boiled or baked, avoid fried potatoes and chips. | - |
| Czechia | - | - | - |
| Denmark | Include potatoes in your meals several times a week. About 100 g of potatoes a day (on average) is adequate when eating a plant-rich and varied diet. | - | - |
| Note: Potatoes do not count towards the '6 a day' F&V | |||
Country | Quantitative recommendations | Qualitative recommendations | Portion size |
| Germany | Daily 1 serving (200-250 g) potatoes (cooked) (as alternative to pasta and rice). | Eat plenty of (cereals, preferably wholegrain, and) potatoes. | 200-250 g potatoes (cooked) |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
| Estonia | 1-2 portions | Avoid if rich in added fats and if heavily processed | 100 g boiled potatoes, 70 g boiled sweet potato, 100 g mashed potatoes, 100 g french fries, 100 g oven french fries, 100 g potatoes (fried in pan or baked potatoes) (low fat). 1 portion ≈ 75 kcal. |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group (not potato crisps) | |||
| Ireland | 3-5 servings/d of wholemeal cereals and breads, potatoes, pasta, and rice. | Use healthier cooking methods instead of frying or roasting with oil or fat. Limit chips. | 2 medium or 4 small potatoes |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
| Greece | Not more than 3 servings of potatoes a week. | - | 120-150 g (1 medium potato) |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
Country | Quantitative recommendations | Qualitative recommendations | Portion size |
| Spain | - | - Moderate the consumption of potatoes and other tubers. - It is better to eat the potatoes cooked or steamed, as they are part of traditional recipes. | 150-200 g. Example: a large potato or two small ones. |
| France | |||
| Notes: There is no scientific evidence to allow deriving an intake recommendation for potatoes. They can be consumed to the extent that this consumption does not hinder the achievement of other consumption benchmarks. | |||
| Croatia | - | - | - |
| Note: Potato consumption does not count as a portion of vegetables | |||
| Italy | 1-2 portions per week. | - | 2 small potatoes (200g) |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
Country | Quantitative recommendations | Qualitative recommendations | Portion size |
| Cyprus | Bread/ cereals /potatoes: 6-11 portions/d | 90 g | |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
| Latvia | 4-6 servings of cereals (especially wholegrain) and potatoes every day. | - It is recommended to boil, stew or fry potatoes in an oven without fat or with a small amount of vegetable oil. - Avoid eating salty potato snacks, such as potato chips. | A medium-sized potato |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
| Lithuania | - | - | - |
| Note: Potato consumption does not count as a portion of vegetables | |||
| Luxembourg | One portion of cereals or potatoes with each main meal. | - | A portion is equivalent to the amount represented by one hand, i.e. 2 handfuls of potatoes |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
Country | Quantitative recommendations | Qualitative recommendations | Portion size |
| Hungary | Eat potatoes max. every other day. | - | - |
| Note: Potatoes do not count for the four servings per day (no vegetables in that regard) | |||
| Malta | 3 or less servings/week. | Potatoes are part of many traditional recipes. Potatoes used are preferably fresh and cooked with minimal fat, preferably with skin. | 80 g potato |
| Netherlands | See starchy foods. Weekly, maximum half of the recommendations for whole wheat products (excluding bread) and potatoes should consist of potatoes. | - | Medium potato: 70 g |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
| Austria | - | - | 1 portion is 200-250 g cooked potatoes |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
Country | Quantitative recommendations | Qualitative recommendations | Portion size |
| Poland | - | - | - |
| Portugal | 4-11 servings/d of cereals and cereal products, tubers. | - | 1.5 medium-sized potatoes (125 g). |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
| Romania | Max. 3 potatoes/week. | - | - |
| Note: Included in Vegetables | |||
| Slovenia | - | - | - |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
Country | Quantitative recommendations | Qualitative recommendations | Portion size |
| Slovakia | - | - | - |
| Finland | - | Keep eating them in usual amounts, and preferably boiled or cooked in the oven without cream or other added saturated fat. | - |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
| Sweden | - | - | - |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
Country | Quantitative recommendations | Qualitative recommendations | Portion size |
| United Kingdom | - | - | - |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
| Switzerland | - | - | 1 portion corresponds to 200-300 grams of potatoes |
| Note: Potatoes are included in “Starchy foods” | |||
| Iceland | - | - | - |
| Note: Even though potatoes are part of a varied diet they are not included in "Five a day" (five portions of fruit and vegetables) | |||
| Norway | - | Potatoes are not included in the 'five a day', but belong to a varied diet. Potatoes contain more dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals than usual rice and pasta. Choose boiled and baked potatoes over fried. | - |
| Note: Included in "Starchy foods" group | |||
| Originally Published | Last Updated | 07 Dec 2020 | 13 Jan 2025 |
| Knowledge service | Metadata | Health Promotion Knowledge Gateway | Food-Based Dietary Guidelines in Europe |
| Digital Europa Thesaurus (DET) | health policy |