Cheese and red meat are back on the menu - as an international study suggests eating around twice as much as health officials advise.

The study of 220,000 adults found that eating three portions of dairy and one and half portions of meat a day could cut the risk of early death by one quarter.

Scientists said the findings “challenge conventional wisdom” after decades of advice to cut down on full-fat dairy and red meat.

Current NHS guidance says dairy should make up just eight per cent of a person’s daily recommended calorie intake - allowing just one yoghurt or two small slices of cheese.

And red meat consumption should be limited to 70 grams (2.5 oz) a day, it says.

The new global study by McMaster University, in Canada found that far higher levels of intake were linked to a far lower risk of early death.

Those having three portions of dairy - which could mean two slices of cheese, a full-fat yoghurt and half a pint of whole milk - and one and half portions of red meat daily fared best. This equates to around 20-25 per cent of calories coming from dairy.

Their rates of early death were 25 per cent lower than those of people consuming less, with 22 per cent fewer heart attacks.