HFSS Score Calculator & Recipe Reformulation

HFSS, aka nutrient profiling, is a UK government marketing initiative to help combat obesity. Marketing of High Fat, Sugars and Salt (HFSS) foods, which are considered to be ‘less healthy’ or even ‘junk’ food, is being curtailed.

What do the HFSS restrictions cover?

Placement (positioned in prime store locations – e.g. end of aisles, checkouts, entrances, queues etc.), Advertising (on prime-time TV before the 9pm watershed, plus paid-for online platforms) and Volume Promotions (such as Buy One, Get One Free, 50% Extra Free etc.).

Has HFSS come into effect?

The restrictions on Placement came into effect from October 2022. However, the restrictions on Volume Promotions have been further delayed until October 2025, and the restrictions on Advertising have been delayed until January 2024. Despite this, some large retailers such as supermarkets have already started voluntarily applying the delayed restrictions as well.

What foods does HFSS apply to?

HFSS regulations only apply to the following food categories: Breakfast cereals, morning goods, confectionary, cakes, sweet biscuits, bars made with cereal, savoury snacks, nuts and/or seeds, ice cream and lollies, soft drinks with added sugars, desserts and puddings, sweetened yoghurt and fromage frais, pizza, potato products (such as chips), and ready meals. AND ONLY foods in these categories which score highly on the Government Nutrient Profile model – see examples in our Expert Paper.

How do I know if a product is HFSS?

You need to use a HFSS score calculator, such as featured in our NutriCalc software (known as the Nutrient Profile Report). Foods that score 4 or more points, and drinks that score 1 or more points, are categorised as HFSS. Products are allocated points for the so-called ‘bad’ nutrients: energy, saturated fat, sugars and sodium. Points are then deducted for so-called ‘good’ nutrients: protein and fibre. And finally, there is a points deduction for the quantity of fruit, vegetables and nuts that the product contains.

What types of foods are usually HFSS? 

Please see the fruit pie, croissant, snack bar, milk chocolate and pretzels etc food type examples and their HFSS scores in our Expert Paper. 

Are there any other HFSS exceptions?

The regulations do not apply to ‘pre-packed food for direct sale’ (PPDS). This is food that is packaged at the same place it is offered or sold to consumers and is in this packaging before it’s ordered or selected by the consumer, or food that is loose or non-prepacked.

Which retailers need to comply?

Retailers that meet BOTH the following criteria: 1) They have more than 50 employees (combining those in head office with store staff) – including stores which operate as part of a franchise agreement or are a member of a symbol group. 2) They have an internal ‘customer sales floor’ area of over 2,000 sq. ft. (185.8sqms).

Information sources: David F. Bartley PhD – NutriCalc, Department of Health & Social Care, ACS advice guide for retailers. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information above is accurate and up to date (when published in October 2022), NutriCalc accepts no liability for errors or omissions. E&OE.