After a short summer break, we’re back with plenty to catch up on across the UK and EU food and nutrition landscape.
In the UK, Tesco has expanded restrictions on additives across its own-label range as consumers increasingly look to cut back on processed foods. At the same time, scrutiny of industry links among members of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has renewed debate around the independence of the scientific advice informing government nutrition policy.
In Brussels, the European Commission has set the direction for a major scientific and ethical assessment of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), which will examine not only their potential health effects, but also whether existing definitions and classification systems provide a sufficiently robust basis for future policymaking. With final advice expected in 2027, the work could have significant implications for how the EU ultimately chooses to regulate UPFs.
The Commission is also looking more broadly at the future of Europe’s food system. New public procurement proposals would give greater weight to nutritional quality and sustainability alongside price, while the newly launched Food2040 framework sets out priorities for research and innovation aimed at making food systems more resilient, sustainable, and competitive.
From renewed scrutiny of ultra-processed foods and nutrition advice to changes in public procurement and the evolving role of alternative proteins, this edition looks at the developments shaping the next phase of food and nutrition policy across the UK and EU.
The Food & Nutrition Team
Whitehouse Communications
Policy and regulatory developments
European Commission publishes new proposal for public procurement rules
On 9th September, the European Commission adopted its proposal for a new Public Procurement Regulation that would consolidate existing rules and place greater emphasis on a “best quality for money” model rather than a “lowest price” approach. The intention is for environmental, social, health, and resilience considerations to play a larger role alongside price.
The Act includes a dedicated article on food procurement allowing public buyers to take into account the quality and sustainability of food when awarding contracts. Relevant considerations include nutritional value, health impacts, freshness and seasonality of food products, fair remuneration for farmers involved in food production, organic production methods, and quality schemes such as geographical indications (GIs).
The Act also includes provisions on green public procurement which apply to food procurement. Public buyers may consider environmental and climate-related factors in order to minimise negative impacts and promote positive environmental outcomes. Additionally, the Act introduces a new "European preference" toolbox, which gives public buyers the option to favour suppliers from the EU and partner countries. The proposal will now be considered by the European Parliament and Council, and the European Commission has opened a public consultation, which will close on 11th November.
European Commission launches Food 2040 framework
On 11th September, the European Commission launched its Food 2040 framework, setting out a new direction for research and innovation aimed at building more sustainable, resilient and competitive food systems. Developed jointly by DG Research and Innovation and DG Agriculture and Rural Development, Food 2040 builds on the Commission’s existing Food 2030 initiative. The framework identifies six areas for action: sustainable and resilient food systems; healthy and safe diets and food; circularity and resource efficiency; inclusive and fair food systems; competitive and innovative food systems; and food systems governance and knowledge.
The Commission’s approach reflects stakeholder calls for stronger links between research, innovation and real-world deployment, alongside a greater focus on competitiveness, sustainability and health. The next major milestone was the EU AgRI 2040 Conference, which took place in Brussels on 24th-25th September 2026, where stakeholders contributed to shaping future EU research and innovation priorities. Looking ahead, the Commission will now work with stakeholders to translate the Food 2040 priorities into research and innovation activities and broaden participation in shaping the future of Europe’s food systems.
Tesco expands additive restrictions
Tesco has expanded its restrictions on additives in own-label products, increasing the number of banned or restricted additives from 65 to 114 as part of its ongoing food reformulation programme. The changes reflect growing public interest in the role of additives and ultra-processed foods, although there is currently no specific government policy requiring retailers to adopt restrictions of this kind. These restrictions implemented by Tesco now include the outright banning of ingredients such as artificial colours, aspartame, and monosodium glutamate, while suppliers are required to use additives only where necessary for food safety, shelf life, or product quality, and at the minimum level needed. It comes after 80% of Tesco shoppers told the retailer they were trying to eat fewer processed foods but that they found it hard.
The changes form part of Tesco’s wider efforts, since 2018, to improve the nutritional profile of its products and respond to growing consumer interest in ultra-processed foods. Tesco has also introduced an online filter to help shoppers identify products without additives and said it will continue to monitor scientific evidence, industry practice, and policy developments around ultra-processed foods.
Debate over industry ties to the UK’s Scientific Nutrition Advisory Committee (SACN)
A recent investigation from the British Medical Journal has prompted debate over conflicts of interest among members of the UK’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN), the government’s main expert advisory body on nutrition. The investigation found that six of SACN’s 19 members have interests classified under the committee’s own rules as “significant,” including industry-funded research, shares in a food company, and roles with organisations funded by food businesses. SACN recently updated its code of practice so that people with significant interests in the food, drink, diet or supplement industries cannot be newly appointed, although existing members have up to two years to comply and are excluded from relevant discussions in the meantime.
The changes have been welcomed by public health organisations and commentators who argue that stronger safeguards are needed to protect the independence and credibility of nutrition advice, while others have raised the practical question of whether it is realistic to exclude all scientists with any industry links, particularly given the importance of industry funding to nutrition research.
European Commission sets direction for scientific and ethical assessment of Ultra-Processed Foods
The publication comes at a time of heightened political attention on diet-related health issues. Earlier this month, the European Parliament adopted its report on an EU cardiovascular diseases strategy in response to the Commission's Safe Hearts Plan. The report welcomes the ongoing study on UPFs and calls on the Commission to develop a clear, science-based definition of ultra-processed foods.
Notably, the scoping paper signals that the European Commission is seeking a broader and more nuanced assessment of UPFs than has traditionally been provided by the widely used NOVA classification system. Rather than assuming current classifications are fit for purpose, the Commission has explicitly asked SAM's Group of Chief Scientific Advisors to examine the prominent definitions and classifications of UPFs and assess the extent to which they provide an effective basis for policymaking. This suggests that the study will critically evaluate whether existing approaches, including NOVA, are sufficiently robust to support future regulatory action.
The advisors have also been tasked with reviewing the current scientific evidence on the health effects of UPFs and analysing consumption patterns across the EU. Importantly, the scope extends beyond food processing alone. The Commission has requested consideration of a range of factors that may contribute to health outcomes, including ingredients, food additives, flavourings, portion sizes and consumption frequencies. This broader approach recognises that the relationship between processing and health may be influenced by multiple characteristics of foods and dietary patterns, rather than by processing alone.
Alongside the scientific assessment, the EGE will examine the ethical and societal dimensions of UPF production and consumption. Its work will explore issues such as social inequalities, affordability, market concentration, consumer choice, labour conditions and environmental impacts across food value chains. Together, the scientific and ethical opinions are expected to provide the foundation for future EU policy discussions on ultra-processed foods and their role within a healthier and more sustainable European food system.
As policymakers increasingly look to address diet-related diseases, the study's conclusions could play a pivotal role in determining whether future EU measures target foods based on their degree of processing, their nutritional composition, specific ingredients, or a combination of these factors.
Shaping the future of sustainable food systems
This month’s top industry initiatives selected by the Whitehouse team:
- Mondelēz, PepsiCo and pladis are participating in a trial which will test digital watermarks on flexible food packaging to help sorting facilities identify and separate materials more accurately for recycling: The initiative aims to improve the availability of high-quality recycled material for food packaging and support the development of more circular packaging systems.
Think that your sustainable initiative deserves a shout out? Please contact: eden.reyhanian@whitehousecomms.com
Engagement opportunities
Open consultations
Engage with these consultations to shape the issues affecting your organisation:
- European Commission consultation on a regulation for food safety – cereulide toxin in infant formulae. The deadline is 29th September.
- FSA consultation on the proposed revocation of one Regulated Feed Product 2026. The deadline is 2nd October.
- European Commission consultation on the delegated regulation for meat production – freezing of meat from domestic ungulates. The deadline is 5th October.
- European Commission consultation on the draft act on the list of non-OECD countries authorised to import certain non-hazardous waste from the EU. The deadline is 16th October.
- FSA consultation on the authorisation of 16 regulated products (novel foods) 2026. The deadline is 16th November.
Events calendar
- 28 September: UNEP - Changing Habits, Saving Food: Global Lessons in Behaviour Change (Online).
- 29 September: EFF - International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste: Tackling Food Loss and Waste: From Production to Redistribution(Brussels).
- 29 September: POLITICO Live’s Future of Food and Farming Summit (Paris and online).
- 29 September: EFSA plenary meeting of the Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens Panel (Online).
- 22 October: Food Ingredients (Frankfurt).
- 17-19 November: Food Manufacture Business Leaders’ Forum (London).
- 12-14 April: Foodex Manufacturing Solutions (Birmingham).
Get in touch: Zoé Choulika, Account Director, Food, Public Health and Sustainability zoe.choulika@whitehousecomms.com