The Government has committed to updating the standards behind the advertising and promotions restrictions on ‘less healthy’ food and drink by applying the new Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM).

United Kingdom dietary advice is clear, that children should be eating less free sugars and more fibre. Free sugars are those sugars added to foods plus those naturally present in syrups, honey, and unsweetened fruit and vegetable juices, smoothies, purees, and pastes. Free sugars are the focus of UK dietary recommendations and the new NPM because they are strongly linked to health risks like dental caries and excess weight gain. Children are consuming twice the level of free sugars than recommended, and 90% of children are not consuming enough fibre.

Yogurts are often consumed as a breakfast product, dessert, or as a snack. Some can be high in free sugars because they contain added sugar, fruit juice, or puree. When fruits are juiced or pureed, the sugars are released and act like an added sugar, in the same way that sugar is added to cakes and desserts. Data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey shows that yogurts, fromage frais, and dairy desserts make a similar contribution to young children’s free sugar and calorie intakes as buns, cakes, pastries, and fruit pies.

We launched a consultation on the proposed application of the new NPM to the advertising and promotions restrictions on less healthy food and drinks, which is open until 17 June. This will strengthen these policies by bringing more products of concern for children’s health into scope, including those marketed and often perceived by parents as being healthier than they are, such as some fruit yoghurts. 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.

We will use evidence from the consultation and our extensive engagement with stakeholders to inform final policy decisions and the final impact assessment, which will be published ahead of any changes being made.

Government dietary advice is depicted in the United Kingdom’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide, and information is available through NHS.UK website.

Government advice encourages the consumption of milk and dairy foods, such as cheese and yoghurt, or dairy alternatives, as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Government advice highlights that milk and dairy foods, including yoghurt, are good sources of protein, calcium, and some vitamins, but are also a source of saturated fat. It also notes that for older children and adults, eating too much fat can contribute to excess energy intakes, leading to becoming overweight. It also notes that there is evidence that high intakes of saturated fat are associated with raised blood cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk. Advice is therefore to choose lower-fat varieties of milk and dairy products, including yoghurt, where possible, or to eat smaller amounts of fuller-fat varieties in order to reduce the amount of saturated fat in the diet. It is also recommended to choose yoghurts or fromage frais that have no added sugars or are low in added sugar. Government recommendations do not provide a frequency of consumption for milk and dairy products.

United Kingdom dietary recommendations are based on independent advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). In its 2023 report, Feeding young children aged one to five years, the SACN recommended that current UK dietary recommendations, including those for dairy products, such as yoghurt, as depicted in the Eatwell Guide, should apply from around the age of two years old, with some exceptions, including that dairy products, such as yoghurts and fromage frais, given to children aged one to five years old should ideally be unsweetened.

Up to the age of two years old, the current UK recommendation is that children can be given pasteurised full-fat cheeses and dairy products, including yoghurt, from the age of six months. After the age of two years old, it is recommended to introduce lower-fat dairy products.

No assessment has been made of the impact of including specific daily recommendations on yogurt intake in dietary guidelines.

Government dietary advice is depicted in the United Kingdom’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide, and information is available through NHS.UK website.

Government advice encourages the consumption of milk and dairy foods, such as cheese and yoghurt, or dairy alternatives, as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Government advice highlights that milk and dairy foods, including yoghurt, are good sources of protein, calcium, and some vitamins, but are also a source of saturated fat. It also notes that for older children and adults, eating too much fat can contribute to excess energy intakes, leading to becoming overweight. It also notes that there is evidence that high intakes of saturated fat are associated with raised blood cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk. Advice is therefore to choose lower-fat varieties of milk and dairy products, including yoghurt, where possible, or to eat smaller amounts of fuller-fat varieties in order to reduce the amount of saturated fat in the diet. It is also recommended to choose yoghurts or fromage frais that have no added sugars or are low in added sugar. Government recommendations do not provide a frequency of consumption for milk and dairy products.

United Kingdom dietary recommendations are based on independent advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). In its 2023 report, Feeding young children aged one to five years, the SACN recommended that current UK dietary recommendations, including those for dairy products, such as yoghurt, as depicted in the Eatwell Guide, should apply from around the age of two years old, with some exceptions, including that dairy products, such as yoghurts and fromage frais, given to children aged one to five years old should ideally be unsweetened.

Up to the age of two years old, the current UK recommendation is that children can be given pasteurised full-fat cheeses and dairy products, including yoghurt, from the age of six months. After the age of two years old, it is recommended to introduce lower-fat dairy products.

No assessment has been made of the impact of including specific daily recommendations on yogurt intake in dietary guidelines.

Government dietary advice is depicted in the United Kingdom’s national food model, the Eatwell Guide, and information is available through NHS.UK website.

Government advice encourages the consumption of milk and dairy foods, such as cheese and yoghurt, or dairy alternatives, as part of a healthy, balanced diet. Government advice highlights that milk and dairy foods, including yoghurt, are good sources of protein, calcium, and some vitamins, but are also a source of saturated fat. It also notes that for older children and adults, eating too much fat can contribute to excess energy intakes, leading to becoming overweight. It also notes that there is evidence that high intakes of saturated fat are associated with raised blood cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk. Advice is therefore to choose lower-fat varieties of milk and dairy products, including yoghurt, where possible, or to eat smaller amounts of fuller-fat varieties in order to reduce the amount of saturated fat in the diet. It is also recommended to choose yoghurts or fromage frais that have no added sugars or are low in added sugar. Government recommendations do not provide a frequency of consumption for milk and dairy products.

United Kingdom dietary recommendations are based on independent advice from the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). In its 2023 report, Feeding young children aged one to five years, the SACN recommended that current UK dietary recommendations, including those for dairy products, such as yoghurt, as depicted in the Eatwell Guide, should apply from around the age of two years old, with some exceptions, including that dairy products, such as yoghurts and fromage frais, given to children aged one to five years old should ideally be unsweetened.

Up to the age of two years old, the current UK recommendation is that children can be given pasteurised full-fat cheeses and dairy products, including yoghurt, from the age of six months. After the age of two years old, it is recommended to introduce lower-fat dairy products.

No assessment has been made of the impact of including specific daily recommendations on yogurt intake in dietary guidelines.

No such assessment has been made. We have a vibrant, resilient and productive dairy sector which produces a range of healthy nutritious products which bring value of £5-£6 billion at farm level, and many times higher when that milk is processed into a diverse range of products and commodities, such as yogurt. This has helped make the dairy industry the UK’s largest agricultural sector accounting for 19% of total 2023 UK agricultural output, bringing significant value to our economy.

The Department for Business and Trade recognises the importance of supporting UK dairy exports, including yoghurt. DBT works closely with industry partners such as the Dairy Export Taskforce and the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board to unlock global opportunities.

We have agreed with the EU to deliver a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement that will significantly reduce costs and paperwork for exporting dairy businesses. Under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, tariffs on UK yoghurt and a broader range of dairy exports to Chile are reduced from 6% to 0%, enhancing competitiveness.

DBT helps businesses benefit from Free Trade Agreements through tailored guidance, sector insights, and direct exporter engagement. The Dairy Export Programme provides targeted support via export promotion, market intelligence, and in-market expertise.

The table below shows the UK production as a percentage of supply for butter and cheese in each of the last five years. This calculation is based upon the volume of supplies (UK production plus imports minus the volume of exports). We do not hold equivalent data for yoghurt. Annual data is not yet available for 2015.

(a) Includes wholesale and farm production.

Source: Defra and HMRC