Strengthening regulation through dietetic expertise
The government has opened a consultation on how the updated Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) will be applied in practice, representing a significant moment for food regulation and public health policy. The outcomes of this consultation will directly influence how regulations on foods high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) operate, particularly advertising restrictions across broadcast and online media.
The Nutrient Profile Model underpins key elements of the current regulatory framework, including the ban on paid‑for online advertising of HFSS foods and the 9pm watershed for TV and on‑demand services. While these measures mark an important step forward in reducing children’s exposure to unhealthy food marketing, their effectiveness depends on how robustly and consistently the model is applied. This consultation therefore plays a critical role in determining whether the updated NPM delivers on its public health potential or whether gaps in application risk weakening regulatory impact.
Connecting the Nutrient Profile Model to HFSS regulation
The updated NPM reflects developments in nutritional science and aims to provide a more accurate assessment of foods in relation to health outcomes. However, regulation does not operate in isolation. The way the model is applied will shape industry responses, influence reformulation strategies and affect how foods are classified and marketed to consumers.
There is growing recognition that food marketing powerfully shapes dietary norms, preferences and purchasing behaviours. HFSS regulations are designed to address this by limiting exposure to unhealthy food promotion, particularly among children. For these measures to succeed, the application of the NPM must be technically sound, transparent and resistant to manipulation. This includes careful consideration of how foods score overall, how individual nutrients are weighted and how the model interacts with wider food policy objectives.
Why dietetics is valued in this policy space
Dietitians bring an essential evidence‑based perspective to the application of the Nutrient Profile Model. With expertise across nutritional science, dietary patterns, behaviour change, food systems and health inequalities, the profession plays a critical role in bridging the gap between policy design and real‑world impact.
Dietitians are uniquely placed to identify where regulatory tools align, or fail to align with population health goals. This includes recognising unintended consequences, such as reformulation that improves model scores without delivering meaningful health benefits, or regulatory approaches that may disproportionately affect certain population groups. The profession’s insight is therefore vital to ensuring that HFSS regulation genuinely improves the food environment rather than simply reshaping marketing practices on paper.
As advertising restrictions tighten, dietetic input is essential to maintaining a strong, nutrition led regulatory framework that prioritises children’s health, reduces inequalities and supports long‑term public health outcomes.
The BDA’s response and the role of members
The BDA will be responding to this consultation, drawing on expertise from across the profession to inform its submission. We will be reaching out to relevant specialist and advisory groups to ensure that our response reflects the breadth of dietetic knowledge across public health, clinical practice, education, research and industry settings.
Member insight will be central to shaping a strong and credible response. Your experience of how nutrition policy plays out in practice including within regulated environments provides valuable evidence that can strengthen the case for effective, proportionate implementation of the Nutrient Profile Model. Furthermore, collective engagement from the dietetic profession will be vital in ensuring that regulation is underpinned by sound nutritional science and delivers meaningful improvements to population health.
Call to action
We strongly encourage members to engage with this consultation and help shape how the Nutrient Profile Model is applied in regulation. The consultation is open until 17th June 2026
- If you have comments, evidence or insights you would like to feed into the BDA’s response, please get in touch
- Members are also encouraged to respond as individuals or as part of a group
- If you would like guidance on responding, or support in contributing from a dietetic perspective, please do contact us
Contact: [email protected]
Find out more on the consultation
