Deadline for submission: Friday, 27 November 2026
Background
Healthy dietary patterns are the foundation for preventing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Moderation, together with adequacy, balance and diversity, is a core principle of a healthy diet. Dietary patterns are shifting in many settings, however, and industrially produced foods now make up a substantial and growing share of what people eat. Unhealthy diets are a major driver of NCDs. Creating the conditions for healthier dietary patterns requires action on the food environment, not just individual behaviour.
Governments can use regulatory measures to reduce dietary risks. These include restrictions on food marketing, nutrition labelling (including front-of-pack labelling), fiscal measures, and public food procurement and service policies. A persistent challenge is deciding, transparently and consistently, which foods fall within the scope of these measures.
For more than two decades, WHO has supported countries through nutrient recommendations, regional nutrient profile models, global sodium benchmarks, recommendations to eliminate trans-fatty acids, and guidance on food-environment policies. The draft Integrated food profiling model for regulatory measures consolidates this work into a practical approach for regulatory application.
The draft model
The model identifies industrially produced, pre-packaged foods to be consumed in moderation within healthy dietary patterns. These foods may fall within the scope of regulatory measures intended to reduce preference, demand and consumption. The model combines two dimensions:
- nutrient criteria for saturated fatty acids, trans-fatty acids, sugars and sodium, derived from WHO recommendations; and
- specified ingredients used primarily for sensory purposes: flavours, colours and sweeteners.
A product is identified when it exceeds one or more nutrient criteria or contains one or more of the specified ingredients. Including flavours, colours and sweeteners does not imply that these ingredients are unsafe. They help identify products formulated to increase appeal and consumption.
The draft also explains how to move from classification to regulatory application. It covers aligning national labelling requirements with the information needed to apply the model, regulatory coherence and legal alignment, and identification, monitoring and governance.
Objective
The aim of this consultation is to gather feedback from Member States, experts, civil society, academia and other stakeholders before the publication is finalized. Comments are invited in particular on:
- the clarity of the model, the criteria and the guidance on how to apply them;
- the practicality of applying the model across diverse food systems and regulatory contexts, including the information needed from nutrition declarations and ingredient lists;
- the guidance on moving from classification to regulatory application; and
- any errors of fact, missing evidence or additional considerations.
General guidance on providing comments
The public consultation is open from 2 November to Friday 27 November 2026, 23:59 CET.
Download the draft publication and access the online feedback form here.
Comments will be accepted via the online form only. Individuals or organizations wishing to comment must submit a completed and signed Declaration of Interest (DOI) form.
After the consultation closes, all comments will be reviewed and considered in finalizing the publication.
Technical contact
For technical questions, please email nfs@who.int with the subject "Food profiling consultation".