HFSS Compliance & Food Reformulation Consultancy

I am Harman Bajwa, Founder of NutrificientLife and an AfN Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) specialising in public health nutrition and the food industry. As an Ex-Aldi National Sustainability Manager (Health & Nutrition) UK & Ireland, I led health and nutrition strategy, HFSS legislation compliance and reformulation programmes across Great Britain and Ireland. My expertise spans HFSS, the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL), Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM) assessments, government nutrition policy, reformulation strategies and regulatory compliance. Today, I help food manufacturers, retailers, start-ups and foodservice businesses navigate complex nutrition legislation, develop practical compliance strategies and build healthier, commercially successful products. You can read more about my background on the About page.

What Is HFSS?

HFSS stands for High in Fat, Salt or Sugar and is a regulatory classification determined using the Food Standards Agency Nutrient Profiling Model (NPM). This points-based scoring system assesses food and drink products against nutritional criteria including energy, saturated fat, sugar and sodium, alongside beneficial components such as fruit, vegetables, fibre and protein.

Products that exceed the relevant threshold are classified as HFSS (also referred to as less healthy) and may be subject to restrictions on placement, promotions and advertising.

For food businesses, accurate HFSS assessment is essential. Understanding which products are in scope, preparing for regulatory changes and developing practical solutions can help reduce compliance risk while supporting healthier product strategies.

UK HFSS Legislation: What Food Businesses Need to Know

HFSS requirements affect how certain food and drink products can be displayed, promoted and advertised.

• Location restrictions (England, since 1 October 2022) apply to HFSS products in prominent retail locations and equivalent online spaces, for businesses with 50 or more employees and stores over 2,000 sq ft.
• Promotion restrictions (England, since 1 October 2025)apply to certain volume price promotions, including multibuy offers and “X% Extra Free” promotions, for the same size of business.
• Advertising restrictions (UK-wide, since 5 January 2026) apply to paid advertising of identifiable less healthy food and drink products, with no small-business or out-of-home exemption.

Businesses below the 50-employee threshold, and the out-of-home sector (restaurants, cafés, and takeaways), are exempt from the location and promotion restrictions. The impact of HFSS legislation otherwise depends on factors such as product category, business size, sales channels and promotional activity — a tailored assessment is essential to understand your specific requirements.

How I Can Help Your Business

I provide practical, commercially focused consultancy support for food businesses, covering:

• HFSS & NPM assessments – reviewing products and portfolios to determine HFSS status and identify risks.
• Reformulation guidance – supporting healthier product development and improvements in sugar, salt, saturated fat and calorie profiles.
• Nutrition profiling and labelling reviews – helping ensure nutrition information and claims are accurate and appropriate.
• Merchandising and promotion reviews – assessing retail placement, online positioning and promotional activity against HFSS requirements.
• Nutrition strategy and policy support – developing practical approaches aligned with public health priorities and business goals.
• Staff training and workshops – building HFSS and nutrition understanding across commercial, technical and marketing teams.
• Menu development support – creating balanced menus for schools, nurseries, workplace catering and foodservice environments.

Who I Work With

• Food and drink manufacturers developing or reviewing products
• Retailers managing HFSS compliance and nutrition strategies
• Start-ups launching healthier products
• Foodservice businesses improving menus and nutrition standards
• Schools, nurseries, and workplace caterers developing nutritionally sound menus
• Organisations seeking expert nutrition and regulatory guidance

With experience across retail, FMCG, public health and healthcare, I combine nutrition science with real-world food industry knowledge to help businesses navigate regulation, reduce risk and create healthier products that work commercially.

You can see indicative packages and pricing on the Services page, and read a fuller explainer on the rules themselves in my guide to UK HFSS food regulations.

Frequently Asked Questions