Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, that based on the latest consultation from the DHSC on the Nutrient Profile Model (NPM), and given that most fruit yogurts are low in fat and much lower in calories than many alternative desserts and snacks, what evidence is the Government using to substantiate its policy that yogurt is a major contributor to childhood obesity.

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.