Overview

• The Department of Health and Social Care has formally unveiled the healthy food standard and briefed major supermarket chains on its inclusion in the forthcoming 10-year Health Plan.
• Supermarkets will be required to submit detailed nutrient-based sales data by the end of the current parliament in 2029, facing financial penalties for consistently missing targets.
• Retailers can choose how to meet the standard through measures such as product reformulation, price promotions on fruits and vegetables, or store-layout changes to nudge shoppers toward healthier options.
• Nesta’s modelling of 36 million transactions underpins the policy, aiming to lift the average basket health score from 67 to 69 and project a 20 percent reduction in obesity over three years.
• Industry leaders including Tesco and Sainsbury’s have welcomed the move, while some retail and political figures warn it risks creating excessive regulation and pushing up prices.