Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the risk that the revised Nutrient Profiling Model could reduce the availability of credible, lower-calorie alternatives within popular categories; and if he will set out safeguards to prevent that outcome.

The Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) is a tool that determines whether foods or drinks are ‘healthier’ and not high in saturated fat, free sugars, or salt, or foods and drinks that are ‘less healthy’ and high in saturated fat, free sugars, or salt. The new NPM, published on 27 January, more closely reflects United Kingdom dietary recommendations. Our analysis shows that it better identifies healthier products.

The NPM is not about banning the sale of food and drink products or restricting reformulation. The aim is to stop the targeting of 'less healthy’ food and drink marketing to children and encourage further reformulation and the promotion of healthier options.

We recognise the efforts business have made to provide healthier alternatives within popular food and drink categories. We consider that these can be built upon to cater for the increasing demand from consumers for healthier products. We are confident that industry can continue this journey and we will continue our engagement to support businesses to do this.