Nutrient Profiling Model 2018

On 27th January 2026 the Government published details of the updated nutrient profiling model that will be used to classify foods and drinks based on their nutritional composition.

The Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) 2018 updates the 2004/05 framework to align with current dietary advice, including SACN guidance on free sugars and the Eatwell Guide. Key revisions include replacing total sugars with free sugars, recalibrating thresholds for sugar and energy density and adjusting the weighting of fibre points. Seeds are also included alongside fruit, vegetables and nuts.  

Collectively, these changes create a more consistent and health-focused tool for identifying HFSS products. While the updated model strengthens alignment with public health priorities, it also introduces technical, operational and category-specific challenges. These challenges are particularly relevant for products such as composite foods (e.g., soups, sauces, ready meals and fruit-based blends), where accurately estimating free sugars content can be complex due to ingredient form and processing.

Technical guidance is now available, detailing the revised scoring system and the process for calculating free sugars and the fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds content of products. These calculations may be complex for some products, where, for example, a number of different sources of free sugars are included as ingredients.

For current policy applications, including advertising and marketing restrictions, we broadly support the use of the 2018 NPM and recognise its potential benefits to public health. However, we also recognise the practical challenges associated with its implementation and are committed to working collaboratively with industry, trade bodies, and government to address them. It will be important to ensure that the model encourages, rather than inadvertently inhibits, ongoing efforts by industry to reformulate products in ways that support public health outcomes.

The British Nutrition Foundation Position

In principle, the British Nutrition Foundation supports the adoption of the 2018 NPM as it better reflects evidence-based UK dietary guidelines, in particular, the recommendations to reduce population free sugars intakes and to increase fibre intakes.

We are concerned, however, about the operational challenges including calculation of free sugars and fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds content, as outlined in the recently published technical guidance from Government. Phased implementation would allow time for industry adaptation, cost management and the provision of additional guidance where needed.

We recommend that NGOs, Government, scientific bodies and the food industry work collaboratively to explore mechanisms to incentivise incremental reformulation, such as recognising ‘improvement milestones’ or introducing targets for gradual nutrient changes in line with the NPM. Current market data are also essential to identify unintended consequences and guide category-specific interventions. Clear communications are needed to prevent consumer confusion between population-level guidance (e.g. inclusion of fruit juice as one of your 5 A DAY) and product-level HFSS classification.

Brief Technical Description of the 2018 NPM

The NPM scores foods per 100g using “negative” nutrients (energy, free sugars, saturated fat, sodium) and “positive” components (fruit/veg/nuts/seeds, fibre, protein). Higher total scores (negative nutrient scores minus positive nutrient scores) indicate less healthy products, with thresholds determining HFSS classification.

Key 2018 updates vs. 2004/05

• Free sugars replace total sugars, aligning with SACN and WHO recommendations.

• Sugar and energy-density thresholds are lowered, reducing opportunities for high-sugar/high-energy foods to pass.

• Seeds have been added to the fruit/vegetables/nuts score due to their having a similar nutritional profile to nuts.

• Fibre and protein scoring is revised, to align with adult recommended nutrient intakes.  Foods high in fibre may now accrue more positive points (max of 10) but a high free sugar content may still result in the product being classified as HFSS.

Analyses of retail datasets applying both models show slightly lower overall pass rates under the 2018 NPM, with category-specific impacts – e.g. breakfast cereals and dairy foods experience the most pronounced reductions. 

Technical challenges

• Per 100 g basis: Both 2004 and 2018 NPMs are based on nutrient content per 100g of food. Foods consumed in small portions, such as cheeses, whole-milk dairy and certain oils, may be flagged as HFSS despite providing essential nutrients at realistic serving sizes. In categories like cheese, reformulation may not alter classification, raising proportionality concerns.

• Free sugars estimation: Free sugars are not routinely declared on product labels. Technical guidance on the calculation of free sugars in products has been provided, which is a welcome development to ensure clarity and consistency. However, the methodology may be complex for some products, and the application of the guidance will need to be considered. There may also be practical challenges for enforcement and consumer communications – as a result, while the 2018 NPM may be applied effectively for policy purposes (e.g., advertising or marketing restrictions), it is not currently suitable for on-pack messaging or direct consumer guidance on product healthfulness as it is not aligned with existing labelling practices.

• Fibre is not part of mandatory nutrition labelling and remains voluntary. Therefore, as with the 2004/5 NPM, for many products this means that the model cannot be applied using back-of-pack information alone, and it relies on access to detailed product and recipe-level data.

• NPM calculations remain complex and data-intensive, requiring detailed product information.

Useful References

• Nutrient profiling model 2018: technical guidance (January 2026)
• UK nutrient profiling model: review and consultation outcome (January 2026)
• Restricting promotions of ‘less healthy’ foods and beverages by price and location: A big data application of UK Nutrient Profiling Models to a retail product dataset. Jenneson V., Morris M.A., Nutrition Bulletin (2020).
• Restricting Retail Food Promotions: implementation challenges could limit policy success. Jenneson, V, Greenwood, D, Clarke, G et al. Report. University of Leeds (2020)
• Data considerations for the success of policy to restrict in-store food promotions: A commentary from a food industry nutritionist consultation. Jenneson V & Morris M.A., Nutrition Bulletin (2021)
• Public Health England — Annex A: The 2018 review of the UK Nutrient Profiling Model (2018)