Nutrition
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what scientific evidence is the Government using to underpin the implementation of the 2018 Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) and what evidence is the Government using that the 2018 NPM will lead to healthier choices, as defined by the Government, being made by consumers.
Answered by Mrs Sharon Hodgson
The Government has committed to updating the standards behind the restrictions on advertising ‘less healthy’ food or drink.
The advertising and promotions restrictions currently rely on the outdated Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) 2004/05. The new NPM has been updated in line with the latest dietary advice from the United Kingdom’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, particularly in relation to free sugar and fibre. The Government published the new NPM on 27 January. Applying it to the restrictions will strengthen these policies by bringing more products of concern for children’s health into scope.
On 25 March, we launched a 12-week consultation on the proposed application of the new NPM to the advertising and promotions restrictions. A consultation-stage impact assessment of the direct costs to businesses and intended health outcomes was published alongside. Evidence shows that children’s food preferences and consumption can be influenced by advertising and that the shopping environment can encourage impulse purchasing of ‘less healthy’ food and drinks products. The impact assessment indicates that if the calorie reductions from applying the new NPM to the advertising and promotions restrictions are achieved, it could reduce cases of childhood obesity by over 110,000 and adult obesity by almost 520,000.
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 prior to amending the advertising and promotions restrictions legislation.
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