Adult ONS, dessert style - Position statement

Position Statement: Dessert Style Oral Nutritional Supplements (ONS)

Ready to serve dessert style ONS should not be prescribed in primary care
Current prescribing of the following ready to serve dessert style ONS should be reviewed in line with Hertfordshire and West Essex ICS Oral nutritional supplement (ONS) prescribing in primary care guidance

Aymes Actacal Crème

Energieshake Dessert

Ensure Plus Crème

Forticreme Complete

Fresubin 2kcal Crème

Fresubin Yocreme

Nutricrem

Dessert style ONS contain less nutrition than compact powder milkshake, powder dessert or compact ready to serve ONS and can cost considerably more
A purchased thick & creamy yoghurt fortified with 15g of skimmed milk powder is nutritionally better and less expensive than a ready to serve dessert style ONS — see table below for details
If the patient meets the criteria for a prescription of ONS, Aymes Shake Compact or Aymes Actasolve Delight (powdered dessert) are both more cost effective because they provide more nutrition in a similar volume
None of the products listed above have an International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) descriptor and they are therefore NOT suitable for patients with diagnosed dysphagia.

Product	Volume	Energy content	Protein content	Cost to the NHS	Cost to the patient
Ready to serve dessert style ONS	125g	171 – 250 kcal	7.1 – 12.5g	£1.10 – £2.11	£0.00
Thick & Creamy Yoghurt + 1 tablespoon skimmed milk powder	150g	219kcal	11.1g	£0.00	£0.75

Version number: 1.0
Developed by: Alison Smith, Lead Prescribing Support Dietitian , HWE ICB
Approved by: HWE APC
Date approved / updated: July 2022
Review date: The recommendation is based upon the evidence available at the time of publication. This recommendation will be reviewed upon request in the light of new evidence becoming available.
Superseded version: n/a