An update to the document setting out Medical Employment Standards (Joint Service Publication 950 (JSP 950) Leaflet 6-7-7), which sets out the Medical Employment Standards for the Armed Forces, was published in July 2026, following an intensive period of review undertaken by clinical experts, Defence personnel staff and the recruiting agencies.

It confirms that candidates with a history of gluten sensitive enteropathy (coeliac disease) are unable to join the Armed Forces. Coeliac disease can only be managed by completely avoiding gluten, and failing to follow a strict gluten-free diet coeliac disease can lead to severe short-term symptoms and long-term health risks, including an increased risk of cancer. Defence is unable to provide a sustained gluten-free diet or reliably guarantee exclusion diets throughout a service career.

In the course of the review, each standard was considered in light of existing and/or emerging medical evidence and assessed against the likelihood of the associated medical risk of a five-year engagement.

The nature of military service is such that here are multiple opportunities for exposure to triggers and operational realities increase the risk of inadvertent ingestion or cross-contamination. Environmental exposure to a trigger is not fully controllable under field conditions such as austere kitchens, ration sharing, host-nation / coalition catering, unlabelled or locally procured food, fatigue, and time pressure.Medical employment standards remain under routine review.

An update to the document setting out Medical Employment Standards (Joint Service Publication 950 (JSP 950) Leaflet 6-7-7), which sets out the Medical Employment Standards for the Armed Forces, was published in July 2026, following an intensive period of review undertaken by clinical experts, Defence personnel staff and the recruiting agencies.

It confirms that candidates with a history of gluten sensitive enteropathy (coeliac disease) are unable to join the Armed Forces. Coeliac disease can only be managed by completely avoiding gluten, and failing to follow a strict gluten-free diet coeliac disease can lead to severe short-term symptoms and long-term health risks, including an increased risk of cancer. Defence is unable to provide a sustained gluten-free diet or reliably guarantee exclusion diets throughout a service career.

In the course of the review, each standard was considered in light of existing and/or emerging medical evidence and assessed against the likelihood of the associated medical risk of a five-year engagement.

The nature of military service is such that here are multiple opportunities for exposure to triggers and operational realities increase the risk of inadvertent ingestion or cross-contamination. Environmental exposure to a trigger is not fully controllable under field conditions such as austere kitchens, ration sharing, host-nation / coalition catering, unlabelled or locally procured food, fatigue, and time pressure.Medical employment standards remain under routine review.

I refer the Hon Member to the NHS Food and Drink Standards, last updated in 2022, which states that people’s preferences, religious, and cultural backgrounds must be considered when providing food and drink. The guidance is available at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/national-standards-for-healthcare-food-and-drink/

There is no intention to introduce guidance or requirements in addition to the existing Regulation 14 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, or the Care Quality Commission guidance.

The regulation requires care providers to ensure the nutritional needs of service users are met, which includes meeting any reasonable requirements arising from the service user’s preferences or their religious or cultural background.

The guidance states that people's religious and cultural needs must be identified in their nutrition and hydration assessment, and that when a person has specific dietary requirements relating to moral or ethical beliefs, these must be fully considered and met.

The Government is committed to raising the healthiest generation of children ever, which includes taking decisive action on the obesity crisis.

Local authorities and National Health Service integrated care boards are responsible for commissioning services to support children, families, and others living with overweight and obesity, based on local decision making and priorities. In line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance, these services should include nutritional support to improve diet, eating patterns and behaviours, and may include dietetic support where appropriate. This applies to services delivered through neighbourhood health models, including neighbourhood health centres, where these are part of local provision.

Core funding for local authorities’ public health responsibilities is provided through the ring-fenced Public Health Grant (PHG) which funds a range of preventative and treatment health services, including obesity programmes. The PHG allocation is weighted heavily towards deprivation. On average, the most deprived areas receive over twice the funding per capita as the least deprived. Wolverhampton’s consolidated PHG for 2026/27 is £28,621,803 (est. £28.6 million).

The Department recognises that food insecurity can make it harder for people to follow medically prescribed diets and can worsen the risk of poor nutrition and malnutrition. Registered dietitians already play an important role in supporting affected patients through compassionate assessment of financial and practical barriers, adapting dietary advice to be realistic and affordable, and signposting to wider support such as local welfare assistance, community food provision and food banks where appropriate. The Department has also worked with the Money and Pensions Service and NHS England to support the workforce through resources and e-learning, including tools to help practitioners discuss money worries with patients and signpost them to relevant support. The Department recognises the value of registered dietetic professionals in this area and will continue to work with partners to support practical approaches that help patients follow medically prescribed diets.

Support is available to help reduce costs for patients who are prescribed foods or supplements. Patients may be eligible for exemption from National Health Service prescription charges. Those who do not qualify for an exemption can seek help under the NHS Low Income Scheme.

Regulation 14 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 requires care providers to ensure the nutritional and hydration needs of service users are met, which includes meeting any reasonable requirements arising from the service user’s preferences or their religious or cultural background.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) guidance states that people's religious and cultural needs must be identified in their nutrition and hydration assessment. When a person has specific dietary requirements relating to moral or ethical beliefs, such as vegetarianism, these requirements must be fully considered and met.

Providers must be able to demonstrate to the CQC that they meet this regulation.

The Government’s Eatwell Guide advises that people should eat plenty of fruit and vegetables, and wholegrain or higher-fibre foods, as well as less processed meat, and food and drink that is high in sugar, calories, saturated fat, and salt. This includes at least five portions of a variety of fruits and vegetables every day. Fresh, frozen, tinned, and dried fruit and vegetables all count. The Eatwell Guide indicates that many foods classified as ‘ultra processed’ such as crisps, biscuits, cakes, confectionery, and ice cream are not part of a healthy, balanced diet.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), alongside other Government departments, are funding research on a number of food system trials through the SALIENT programme. The programme prioritises interventions and partners that have the largest reach and the greatest potential to narrow health inequalities, both geographic and socio-economic. These trials include research on food and vegetable pricing in supermarkets and evaluating the effect of food pantries on food insecurity. DEFRA’s 2024 report on food insecurity also considered inequalities in access to a healthy, sustainable diet.

DHSC is working closely with DEFRA to develop their cross-Government Food Strategy, which aims to improve affordability and access to healthier food, to help both adults and children live longer, healthier lives. We are committed to making the healthier choice the easier choice.

Earlier this year, the Government committed to reviewing the School Food Standards to reflect the most recent Government dietary recommendations. Free school meals will also be extended to all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit from September 2026, including in rural areas. Our free breakfast clubs started with 750 early adopter schools in April 2025, and we have just announced the next wave of 500 schools, with 40% of pupils on free school meals to benefit from the programme from April 2026. The aim of these programmes is to ensure children receive nutritious meals at school and to remove barriers to opportunity.

Our Healthy Food Schemes, which comprises of Healthy Start, the School Fruit and Veg Scheme, and the Nursery Milk Scheme, provides support for those who need it the most to eat a healthy, balanced diet. Healthy Start provides funding to pregnant women, babies, and young children under four years old from very low-income households to support a healthier diet. In April 2026, the value of weekly payments will increase by 10%.

DHSC is working at pace to develop proposals set out in our 10-Year Health Plan commitments, to introduce mandatory healthier sales reporting for large food businesses and then set new targets to increase the healthiness of sales.

We will work closely with business to implement these commitments, and plan to conduct extensive engagement with industry and wider stakeholders throughout policy development. To assist us in the development of the mandatory reporting we will commence our formal engagement with businesses shortly. This will involve a series of workshops with a cross-sector industry working group.