Government launch consultation on application of updated Nutrient Profile Model to food policy
The government has announced the launch of a 12-week consultation on how best to apply the updated Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) to existing food policies, marking an important step forward in improving children’s health.
The consultation will explore how the updated 2018 NPM can be used to strengthen current rules on the advertising and promotion of less healthy food and drink products. The move reflects growing recognition that existing policies are underpinned by a model initially developed more than 20 years ago, which no longer aligns with the latest dietary advice or today’s food environment.
The updated model, published in January 2026, reflects significant advances in scientific evidence - key changes include:
- A shift from measuring ‘total sugars’ to ‘free sugars’, in line with strong evidence linking high free sugars intake to poor health outcomes.
- Improved fibre thresholds to better incentivise healthier product composition.
Action on Salt and Sugar have welcomed the launch of the consultation, noting its potential to strengthen the UK’s food environment, reduce children’s exposure to less healthy products, and create a more level playing field for businesses, alongside clearer direction to support reformulation.
Sonia Pombo, Head of Research and Impact, Action on Salt & Sugar said:
“This is a hugely important step forward for children’s health. The new model is much more robust and finally reflects the evidence on free sugars, salt and excess calories, offering a stronger foundation to protect children from unhealthy food environments.
But for this to make a real difference, the updated NPM must be applied consistently across all areas of food policy, not just advertising and promotions, but also labelling and nutrition claims. This is a crucial opportunity to close loopholes, ensure healthier and more affordable food options are available to all, and drive reformulation across products that shape our diets every day. This is exactly the kind of action we need to see if we are serious about preventing childhood obesity and preventing diet-related disease.”
The consultation closes on 17th June 2026 and can be accessed via the government website.
