WHO's Proposed Food Assessment Guidelines Draw Opposition from Global Food Industry

The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed changes to its food assessment framework, prompting concerns among major food and beverage manufacturers over the potential impact on product formulation, labelling requirements and regulatory compliance.

The proposed nutrient-profiling approach would expand the evaluation of processed foods beyond conventional nutritional indicators such as sugar, salt and fat. It would also consider the presence of added colours, flavours and sweeteners when determining the nutritional suitability of food products.

The initiative forms part of the WHO's broader efforts to address unhealthy dietary patterns and the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods. The revised framework could help national governments develop policies concerning front-of-package warning labels, food taxation and restrictions on the marketing of certain products.

However, the International Food and Beverage Alliance, representing major multinational manufacturers, has raised objections to the proposal. Industry representatives argue that assessing foods partly on the basis of added ingredients could create regulatory challenges, increase production costs and complicate product reformulation.

Nutrition experts supporting a broader assessment approach maintain that evaluating food quality requires consideration of both nutritional composition and processing characteristics. They argue that focusing exclusively on individual nutrients may not adequately reflect the wider health implications of consuming highly processed products.

According to WHO estimates, unhealthy diets contribute to approximately 11 million deaths worldwide each year, underscoring the importance of effective nutrition policies.

The proposed framework remains under consultation, with stakeholders invited to submit their feedback until 27 November 2026. Any subsequent implementation would depend on further assessment and decisions by the relevant regulatory authorities.

09-11-2026