The unique longitudinal data available in ALSPAC will be used to assess changes in diet at a time when the possible impact of diet on long-term health had been widely publicised to the general public. The results will allow us to assess whether general publicity about ‘healthy’ diet leads to any meaningful change in dietary habits and whether this has any long-term effect on CVD risk. We will also be able to assess whether the use of dietary index scores is able to detect meaningful dietary change and which of the four scores tested are most able to predict a heart healthy diet in English women. If the impact of general advice is demonstrated to have improved eating habits and improved CVD risk this will encourage further general publicity. However, if no effect on diet or CVD risk is detected it will indicate that more finely targeted measures to improve diet should be developed.