UK Food Manufacturers Face New HFSS Nutrient Restrictions

The Government of the United Kingdom is reviewing its Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM), proposing stricter thresholds for free sugars and a higher weighting for fiber. This move follows a total ban on online advertising for products high in fat, salt, and sugar (HFSS) that took effect in January 2026.

Food manufacturers have already invested heavily to comply with existing rules. Mondelēz International spent millions on research and development to reduce sodium and saturated fats in brands like Ritz and BelVita. These efforts involved rebuilding snack recipes at Reading Scientific Services to ensure density and stability while lowering nutrient levels.

The Food and Drink Federation warns that the proposed changes to the NPM create significant uncertainty, estimating that up to 80% of products already reformulated could fail under the new model. Industry leaders argue that shifting regulatory targets undermine their investments. Conversely, Action on Salt & Sugar maintains that updating the decades-old model is necessary to reflect current nutritional evidence and drive further sugar reductions.