Overview

• The new rules, in force from today, outlaw multibuy and other price‑slashing promotions on designated high fat, salt and sugar products, and restrict some free‑refill offers in restaurants and cafes.
• Supermarkets, larger high street retailers and online sellers are in scope, with products defined by a government nutrient profiling model that covers sugary soft drinks, crisps, chocolate, cakes, ice creams, some pizzas and fish fingers.
• A second phase scheduled for January will bar TV adverts for these products before the 9pm watershed and ban online adverts, with the government estimating this could prevent around 20,000 cases of childhood obesity.
• The Department of Health and Social Care says obesity harms children and burdens the NHS financially, and public‑health leaders describe the measures as a long‑overdue first step.
• The British Retail Consortium reports most major chains are already compliant, and a University of Leeds study linked earlier checkout‑placement curbs in 2022 to roughly two million fewer unhealthy items sold per day.