Supply chain distribution expert ACI Group has urged the food industry not to be caught off guard by the government’s sweeping junk food advertising ban, set to come into force next year. After many years of consultations and impact assessments, the UK government is moving forward with the ban and has now released a list of in-scope products, businesses, and services that will be affected. From October 2025, the ban will apply to any product from one of 13 product categories that also scores above four points in the government’s nutrient profiling scores, or above one point for beverages. Products that fall in-scope of the ban will face advertising restrictions both on television and online.
Karsten Smet, Group CEO of ACI Group, said: “The scope of the ban extends far beyond what most would consider ‘junk food’, and covers a wide range of snacks, baked goods, cereals, protein bars, and more. The nutrient profiling system works by scoring products based on their energy, salt, fat, and sugar, then subtracting points based on fibre and protein content. “With the aim being to achieve as low a score as possible, this puts the focus on functional ingredients that can add fibre and protein without adding extra saturated fats or salt. Any brand looking to maintain their share of voice into next year should be carefully examining their recipes and supply chain – there is a huge variety of functional ingredients and additives that can enhance the nutritional content of food and drinks, and a little added fibre or protein could make all the difference.”
