Food labelling legislation means that pre-packaged food must include back of pack nutritional information. This includes total salt content.

In addition, food businesses can voluntarily provide nutritional information on the front-of-pack. Front-of-pack nutrition labelling helps to support healthier choices by showing complex nutritional information, including salt, to consumers in a way that is easy and quick to understand. The United Kingdom was one of the first to introduce a national front-of-pack labelling system, and the voluntary Multiple Traffic Light scheme has been in place across the UK since 2013. Manufacturers and retailers are encouraged to provide a label on as many of their products as possible where the information is meaningful for consumers.

We will continue to review the evidence on front-of-pack nutrition labelling and consider, with devolved administrations, whether further action is needed in the future. If changes to front-of-pack nutrition labelling are required, we will consult on proposed policy changes.

The new Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) aligns with the latest United Kingdom dietary recommendations, particularly on free sugars and fibre, ensuring it reflects current evidence and remains a robust, evidence-based tool for identifying less healthy foods.

The new NPM is based on a review of the UK NPM 2004/05 to reflect changes to UK dietary recommendations since its development, which was undertaken by the former Public Health England, with the advice of an independent expert group, the NPM Expert Group.

The NPM Expert Group agreed not to develop a model from first principles, including making modifications to the theoretical basis of the UK NPM 2004/05. This included changing the base from per 100 grams to per portion size, which was extensively considered during the development of the NPM 2004/05.

The evidence base and modelling underpinning the NPM 2018 was published as part of the 2018 consultation, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-uk-nutrient-profiling-model-2018-review

Following the consultation, the NPM Expert Group considered the feedback, undertook further modelling, and agreed a final updated NPM.

The Government published the new NPM on 27 January. This includes the NPM 2018 Review and Consultation Outcome, associated UK NPM technical guidance, the UK NPM Expert Group responses to the points raised in the 2018 consultation, and the further modelling undertaken by the UK NPM Expert Group.

The Government will always be guided by the evidence. This is the first update to the NPM in 20 years. There are no further updates to the model planned, including consideration of portion size.

The new Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) aligns with the latest United Kingdom dietary recommendations, particularly on free sugars and fibre, ensuring it reflects current evidence and remains a robust, evidence-based tool for identifying less healthy foods.

The new NPM is based on a review of the UK NPM 2004/05 to reflect changes to UK dietary recommendations since its development, which was undertaken by the former Public Health England, with the advice of an independent expert group, the NPM Expert Group.

The NPM Expert Group agreed not to develop a model from first principles, including making modifications to the theoretical basis of the UK NPM 2004/05. This included changing the base from per 100 grams to per portion size, which was extensively considered during the development of the NPM 2004/05.

The evidence base and modelling underpinning the NPM 2018 was published as part of the 2018 consultation, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-uk-nutrient-profiling-model-2018-review

Following the consultation, the NPM Expert Group considered the feedback, undertook further modelling, and agreed a final updated NPM.

The Government published the new NPM on 27 January. This includes the NPM 2018 Review and Consultation Outcome, associated UK NPM technical guidance, the UK NPM Expert Group responses to the points raised in the 2018 consultation, and the further modelling undertaken by the UK NPM Expert Group.

The Government will always be guided by the evidence. This is the first update to the NPM in 20 years. There are no further updates to the model planned, including consideration of portion size.

Healthier food targets and reporting is intended to improve the healthiness of food sales. We will consult soon on the design of the measures, a key aspect of which is to allow businesses flexibility to improve the healthiness of their sales in ways that best reflect their product portfolio and business model. For example, changing store layout, price points, or the reformulation of products. The consultation will also invite views on the size of the business in scope.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, by the end of this Parliament, we will introduce mandatory healthier food sales reporting for all large companies in the sector. The plan also committed to introduce new targets to increase the healthiness of sales, and to engage the Food Strategy Advisory Board on sequencing.

We intend to launch a full public consultation soon to gather a wide range of views on our policy proposals. Final decisions on policy design and implementation will be taken following consultation.

The Department is working with other Government departments on the Healthy Start Scheme, which helps to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies, and young children under four years old from very low-income households. In April 2026, the value of the weekly payments increased by 10%. Pregnant women and children aged over one and under four years old will each receive £4.65 per week, up from £4.25, and children under one years old will each receive £9.30 per week, up from £8.50.

In May 2026, the Healthy Start Scheme supported over 351,000 people, which included 204 households, or families, in Yeovil.

In the 10-Year Health Plan, the Government committed to updating the standards behind the advertising and promotions restrictions on ‘less healthy’ food and drink products by applying the new Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM). The Government published the new NPM on 27 January. The new NPM is built on the latest science and has been updated in line with the latest dietary advice, particularly in relation to free sugars, which are more strongly correlated with poor health outcomes, including obesity.

A full public consultation on the proposed application of the new NPM to the advertising and promotions restrictions closed on 17 June. This consultation sought feedback on the impact and challenges of applying the new NPM, including on the effectiveness of the restrictions in capturing products of most concern to children’s health.

A consultation-stage impact assessment was published alongside the consultation. The impact assessment indicates that if the calorie reductions are achieved, it could reduce cases of childhood obesity by up to 110,000, on top of their existing health benefits of these policies.

The impact assessment takes account of likely consumer behaviour, using recent purchasing data and modelling which includes assumptions about how consumers and businesses may respond to the restrictions. This could include consumers switching between products and retailers using alternative promotional activity. These assumptions were tested through sensitivity analysis.

We will use evidence from the consultation to inform final policy decisions and the final impact assessment which, subject to the outcome of the consultation, would be published ahead of any changes being made.

Detailed impact assessments for the current advertising and promotions restrictions can be found on the GOV.UK website. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the restrictions and will publish Post Implementation Reviews within five years of the restrictions taking legal effect.

The Healthy Start Scheme helps to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies, and young children under four years old from very low-income households. In April 2026 the value of the weekly payments increased by 10%. Pregnant women and children aged over one and under four years old will each receive £4.65 per week, up from £4.25, and children under one years old will each receive £9.30 per week, up from £8.50. Further information on The Eatwell Guide and the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme guide are available, respectively, at the following two links:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-eatwell-guide

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69cd4890b5210036050bc6b2/Withdrawn_-_Family_Hubs_Service_Expectations_2025-2026.pdf

What steps her Department is taking to improve the nutritional standards of school food.

Alongside updating the standards, we also want to support schools to implement them. That is why, alongside developing new governance and compliance proposals, it is right that we give schools the time they need to prepare and embed the new standards, including phasing some changes in secondary schools. The consultation on our proposals closed just over a week ago and we will consider all responses carefully.

Mr Speaker, I know that looking at me you would never guess that my children are now well past school age, but when they were at school—long past Jamie Oliver’s campaign against turkey twizzlers—the school food served was still not as healthy as it should have been, so I am delighted by the Minister’s assurance that the Government have consulted on the first update to school food standards in a decade. I am, however, slightly puzzled by the phased approach to improving the drinks served in secondary schools until September 2028. Will the Government consider speeding up the timetable and moving towards alignment with primary schools, so that we do not miss a crucial opportunity to improve the health of our young people?

I thank the hon. Lady for that really important question and I am really glad to hear of the fantastic example in her constituency. It is really important that our approach to food is embedded right the way across the school curriculum, whether that is children planting their own vegetables in schools or designing their own menus. That is why, as part of our consultation, we have been listening to young people’s voices. Young people will continue to be at the forefront of our new school menus.

I recently visited Ralph Allen school in my constituency and saw how students were leading the way in improving the standard of their food. They have created a vegetable bed in an empty space, and are now offering vegan and vegetarian choices. How will the Department support schools in pupil-led improvements to their food?

I am delighted to see the enthusiasm for our reforms to school food. We want children to enjoy eating tasty, healthy food at school. That is why we are updating school food standards for the first time in a decade and putting young people’s voices at the heart of our plans. We will publish the new standards in September alongside our record expansion of free school meals, driving down poverty and delivering a revolution in school food.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever. The plan committed to, by the end of this Parliament, introduce mandatory healthier food sales reporting for all large companies in the sector. The plan also committed to introduce new targets to increase the healthiness of sales.

We intend to launch a full public consultation soon to gather a wide range of views on our proposals.

Specific implementation dates will be determined following consultation, and the intention is that the policy will be finalised and legislation laid so that reporting comes into force before the end of this Parliament, no later than 2029.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever. The plan committed to, by the end of this Parliament, introduce mandatory healthier food sales reporting for all large companies in the sector. The plan also committed to introduce new targets to increase the healthiness of sales.

We intend to launch a full public consultation soon to gather a wide range of views on our proposals.

Specific implementation dates will be determined following consultation, and the intention is that the policy will be finalised and legislation laid so that reporting comes into force before the end of this Parliament, no later than 2029.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever. The plan committed to introducing mandatory healthier food sales reporting for all large companies in the sector by the end of this Parliament. The plan also committed to introducing new targets to increase the healthiness of sales.

We intend to launch a full public consultation soon to gather a wide range of views on our proposals.

Specific implementation dates will be determined following consultation, and the intention is that the policy will be finalised and legislation laid so that reporting comes into force before the end of this Parliament, no later than 2029.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we will take decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever. The plan committed to introducing mandatory healthier food sales reporting for all large companies in the sector by the end of this Parliament. The plan also committed to introducing new targets to increase the healthiness of sales.

We intend to launch a full public consultation soon to gather a wide range of views on our proposals.

Specific implementation dates will be determined following consultation, and the intention is that the policy will be finalised and legislation laid so that reporting comes into force before the end of this Parliament, no later than 2029.

The Government has committed to updating the standards behind the advertising and promotions restrictions on ‘less healthy’ food and drink and we are consulting on proposals for applying the new Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) to these policies.

The NPM is used as part of a two-step process to determine ‘less healthy’ food or drink products in scope of the advertising and promotions restrictions. Products must first fall within one of the product categories in the legislation and second, score four or above for food, or one or above for drink in an NPM assessment. Fruit juices without added sugar are not in scope of our current promotions and advertising restrictions.

Our consultation seeks feedback on the impact and challenges associated with the proposal for industry and enforcement authorities and gathers views on what further support is needed to help adapt to the requirements of the new NPM. A consultation-stage impact assessment, setting out the direct costs to businesses for the proposed application of the new NPM to these restrictions, was published alongside the consultation.

We will use evidence from the consultation to inform the final impact assessment and welcome views from the fruit juice, agriculture, and food producer sectors. Subject to the outcome of the consultation, the final impact assessment would be published ahead of any changes being made.

Detailed impact assessments for the current advertising and promotions restrictions, which set out the costs to industry, can also be found on the GOV.UK website. We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of the restrictions and will publish a Post Implementation Review within five years of the restrictions taking legal effect.