Application of the WHO Nutrient Profile Model to products on the German market: Implications of proposed new legislation to limit food marketing to which children are exposed

Einleitung Exposure to marketing for foods high in sugar, salt and fat is considered a key risk factor for childhood obesity. To support efforts to limit such marketing, the World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe has developed a nutrient profile model (WHO NPM). The German government plans to use this model in new legislation on food marketing, but it has not yet been tested in Germany.

Methoden We applied the WHO NPM to a random sample of 660 food and beverage products on the German market drawn from Open Food Facts. We calculated the share of products permitted for marketing towards children based on the WHO NPM’s criteria, both under current market conditions and for a number of hypothetical reformulation scenarios.

Ergebnisse The median share of products permitted for marketing towards children across the model’s 22 product categories was 20% (interquartile range (IQR) 3–59%), and increased to 38% (IQR 11–73%) with model adaptations announced by the German government. In our intermediate reformulation scenario, the share of products permitted for marketing towards children increased substantially in six product categories, but changed less in the remaining categories.

Schlussfolgerung The application of the WHO NPM to a random sample of food and beverage products on the German market was found to be feasible. Its use in the proposed new legislation on food marketing in Germany seems likely to serve its intended public health objectives. Practical challenges in applying the model could be addressed with appropriate adaptations and procedural provisions.

Publication History

Article published online:
06 September 2023