Overview

• The restrictions took effect on October 1, blocking online promotion of unhealthy foods and confining television ads to after 9 p.m.
• Coverage is determined by nutrient profiling that assesses overall nutrition as well as levels of saturated fat, salt and sugar.
• Government figures show roughly one in ten four-year-olds in the UK is obese, and one in five five-year-olds has tooth decay.
• The Labour government carried forward a plan initiated by the Conservatives and says it expects the curbs to drive product reformulation.
• Some reports describe the move as preceding a statutory ban expected in 2026, though the legal timeline is disputed, and German consumer advocates are urging Berlin to adopt similar rules despite the government’s lack of plans.