Diet

The assessments of the policy area on this page were based on a snapshot of progress on 20 July 2026 and do not reflect more recent announcements. 

Lead departments 

• Department of Health and Social Care 
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
• Department for Education 

Why it matters to health  

A healthy, balanced diet is essential for maximising health. Yet England has a poorer diet than many western countries – a diet that is high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS), often ultra-processed and low in fruit and vegetables. After years of improvement and then stagnation, the health burden attributable to poor diet has increased since 2020.  

Labour’s commitments 

Before the 2024 General Election, Labour criticised the marketing practices of the food industry, promising to ‘steamroll’ the industry into promoting healthier options. Commitments in Labour’s 2024 manifesto were limited to banning the advertising of junk food to children and the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to people younger than 16 years.  

Status of this policy area 

A lack of adequate action on diet has been a long-term problem: despite 14 strategies and nearly 700 obesity policies over 30 years, obesity prevalence has not fallen. Labour’s 2025 Food Strategy contains fewer concrete health and inequality objectives than that of its predecessor, with outcomes, metrics and implementation plans yet to be defined. 

• Advertising and promotions: Restrictions on unhealthy food and drink promotions have been introduced for medium-sized and large businesses, with modest impacts expected. HFSS advertising restrictions came into force in January 2026, but exemptions are likely to limit their impact.
• Planning: Planning changes restrict new hot-food takeaway outlets near schools and places where children congregate, except in town centres.  
• Schools: Since April 2026, breakfast clubs have started to be rolled out in primary schools. And, since the start of the 2026/27 school year, free school meals have been extended to all children in households receiving Universal Credit. There is a commitment to update School Food Standards by September 2027 and uplift Healthy Start payments to expectant mothers and parents of children younger than 4 years by 10%.
• Industry regulation: Proposals for a Healthy Food Standard, underpinned by an updated Nutrient Profiling Model, would introduce mandatory food reporting and targets for industry. However, there are concerns about slow progress. The Soft Drinks Industry Levy will be expanded with a lower sugar threshold, including for sugary milk drinks. Following consultation, the government announced that the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to people younger than 16 years will be banned from April 2027.