NO single tool can accurately measure people’s diets, but new research shows that combining different methods — from wearable cameras to analysing dietary biomarkers — could be the most reliable picture of what people eat.

In a review published in ‘Nature Food’, an international team of scientists highlights long‑standing problems with traditional self‑reported dietary tools, which often rely on memory and guesswork and place a heavy time burden on participants.

These limitations make it difficult for researchers and policymakers to reliably link diet with health outcomes, and to understand how diets are changing in response to global sustainability challenges.

The review brings together emerging evidence from nutrition science, metabolomics, microbiome research, computer vision and sensor technologies.

Dr Thomas Wilson, from Aberystwyth University’s Department of Life Sciences and a co‑author on the review, said: “Accurately capturing what people eat and drink is one of the biggest challenges in nutrition research. Traditional methods rely heavily on self‑reporting, which we know is imprecise. By integrating modern tools – such as biological biomarkers and digitally assisted reporting – we can dramatically improve accuracy while reducing the burden on participants. This opens the door to much more reliable research and helps us better understand the role of diet in long‑term health.”

The paper highlights new technological advances, from wearable cameras that capture meals in real time, identifying foods and estimating portion sizes with the help of artificial intelligence, and smartphone apps that prompt users to reduce memory‑related errors.

The authors also highlight biomarkers of food intake (BFIs) as a promising advancement in dietary assessment.  BFIs detect chemicals in urine, blood or poo that correspond to specific foods or dietary patterns, offering objective insights into what people have eaten.

The authors emphasise that no single technology can solve all the challenges of dietary assessment. Instead, they propose an integrated, flexible framework that can be tailored to different research settings – from controlled dietary interventions to large‑scale population studies.

The authors argue that emerging dietary assessment tools will be essential for advancing precision nutrition, improving dietary recommendations, and supporting evidence‑based policies for human and planetary health.

Dr Wilson added: “As we confront global challenges – from rising diet‑related diseases to the need for more sustainable diets – getting a clearer picture of what people truly eat is crucial. The technologies now emerging give us a real opportunity to build the next generation of dietary assessment and, ultimately, to support healthier lives and food systems.”

The international research was led by scientists from the University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with Aberystwyth University, Medical University of Graz, the Institute for Systems Biology in Seattle, and Wageningen University & Research.

Valero and Mainline back award-winning Broad Haven event ahead of July championships

A MAJOR sponsorship deal has been agreed to support one of Wales’ longest-running triathlon events, giving a boost to this year’s Pembrokeshire Coast Triathlon in Broad Haven.

Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club has confirmed that Valero Pembrokeshire Oil Terminal and Mainline Pipelines Limited will act as main sponsors for the 2026 race, providing financial backing to help deliver the popular community event.

First staged in 1994, the Broad Haven competition is widely regarded as the longest-running triathlon organised by a grassroots club in Wales. It was named Welsh Triathlon Event of the Year in 2025 and regularly attracts competitors from across the country.

Organisers say the 2026 event will host both the Welsh Standard Distance Triathlon Championships and a round of the Welsh Triathlon Super Series. The race is also set to be filmed for broadcast on S4C.

Jamie Dow, Senior Manager at VPOT, and Tim Rudd, Senior Manager at MLP, said supporting the event was a way of giving back to the local communities where staff live and work.

They said: “Being the longest-running triathlon event in Wales organised by a grassroots club makes this event really special to the communities we live and work in. We are delighted to be able to sponsor the Pembrokeshire Triathlon Club.”

Club chair Helena Tollick said the sponsorship would help keep entry costs affordable while maintaining high standards.

She said: “This support, alongside backing from other sponsors and the local community, enables us to deliver a top-quality event at a fair price in a stunning setting. It also helps the club continue to thrive.”

This year’s Pembrokeshire Coast Triathlon takes place on Sunday, July 5. Entries and further information are available via the club’s website.

Court orders no contact with woman and bans him from address ahead of sentencing

A FISHGUARD man has admitted assaulting a woman and damaging property during an incident earlier this year.

Peter Bromley, aged 50, of Parc y Chwarel, Fishguard, appeared before magistrates at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court for a first hearing.

He pleaded guilty to assault by beating and criminal damage.

The court heard that on January 13, 2026, at Fishguard, Bromley assaulted a woman by beating her.

During the same incident, he also damaged crockery belonging to her.

Magistrates adjourned the case for sentencing to allow a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

Bromley was remanded on conditional bail and must return to Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, February 26 at 12:00pm.

Strict bail conditions were imposed. He must not contact the complainant directly or indirectly and must not attend her address in Fishguard.

Sentencing will take place later this month.