Nutrient profile model adopted to guide future food policies

CEBU, Philippines — The National Nutrition Council (NNC) has officially adopted the Philippine Nutrient Profile Model (PNPM) as the country’s national reference for identifying prepackaged food and beverage products high in nutrients of concern, including sugar, sodium, fat, and saturated fat.

The NNC Governing Board provisionally approved the PNPM on May 7, 2026, and formally adopted it on June 10, 2026, following a multi-year scientific process led by the council and its partner agencies.

The PNPM establishes a single, evidence-based standard that government regulators and industry stakeholders can use in assessing the nutritional composition of processed packaged foods and beverages.

According to the NNC, the model is intended to support efforts to address the country’s triple burden of malnutrition and serve as the technical foundation for future nutrition-related policies.

“We have come to this day after a long journey, with the unwavering commitment to establish a framework that supports nutrition across life stages and creates a healthier food environment for all Filipinos where people are well-informed and secured through improved front-of-pack labelling measures, regulation of food marketing, school food-related policies, and procurement standards,” said Atty. Rosalina U. Bascao, Deputy Executive Director III for Administrative and Financial Service and officer-in-charge.

The council clarified that the PNPM is a technical reference and not a regulation. Any policies that will use the model, including front-of-pack nutrition labeling, food marketing regulations, school food policies, and procurement standards, will still undergo separate consultations and rule-making.

The PNPM sets thresholds for nutrients and food components most strongly linked to obesity and non-communicable disease risk when consumed in excess: total fat, saturated fat, total sugars, added sugars, sodium, and non-sugar sweeteners.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said the PNPM is based on locally generated evidence that will strengthen efforts to combat obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases.

He noted that these diseases cost the Philippines an estimated P756.5 billion annually, equivalent to about 4.8 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

Bascao said the adoption of the PNPM marks a milestone in creating a healthier food environment and strengthening evidence-based nutrition policies for Filipinos.

“Improving the nutrition situation in our country is a shared responsibility. For this to become a success, we need the cooperation of our industry partners, the guidance of experts, the steadfast support of our development partners, and the voices of all stakeholders,” Bascao said.

World Health Organization (WHO) Representative to the Philippines Dr. Eunyoung Ko welcomed the NNC’s adoption of the PNPM, describing it as a significant step toward creating healthier food environments and addressing the country’s growing burden of overweight, obesity, and diet-related non-communicable diseases.

Ko also reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting the government in using the PNPM as the basis for future nutrition policies, including front-of-pack nutrition labeling and other measures that encourage healthier food choices.

Meanwhile, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Philippines said the PNPM will provide a common, evidence-based reference for decisions on product reformulation, placement, advertising, labeling, and sales.

UNICEF Deputy Representative for Programmes Behzad Noubary emphasized that while the private sector plays an important role, clear public standards are necessary to ensure that safeguards for children remain consistent, transparent, and accountable.