Food and drink manufacturers can now assess the nutritional profile of their products against new restrictions on foods high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS), following the launch of a free online advice tool by Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Scotland.

The HFSS Advice Tool, developed through its Reformulation for Health Programme, is designed to help businesses understand whether their products fall within the scope of the regulations and what changes to their formulations could improve their nutritional profile.

The launch comes as new HFSS regulations came into force in Scotland on 1 October 2026. The restrictions limit how certain products can be promoted and displayed in stores and online, mirroring measures already in place in England and Wales.

For manufacturers supplying multiple UK markets, understanding how products are classified is important when making decisions about formulation, product development and commercial positioning.

Understanding the nutrient profile model

At the centre of the tool is the ability to calculate a product’s Nutrient Profile Model (NPM) score. This provides manufacturers with a way to assess how the nutritional composition of a product affects its classification under HFSS rules.

Rather than simply returning a score, the tool shows how individual nutrients contribute to the result. This gives product developers a clearer indication of where changes could make a difference and which aspects of a formulation may need attention.

For manufacturers considering reformulation, this could help inform decisions around ingredient selection, proportions and the balance of nutrients within a finished product.

The tool also highlights front-of-pack labelling and nutrition claims that may be achievable with an existing formulation or following reformulation. This gives businesses an opportunity to consider nutritional improvements alongside how products are presented to consumers.

Importantly, it provides a way to explore potential changes before committing to wider product development work.

Supporting product development decisions

Reformulation is rarely a straightforward exercise. Reducing sugar, salt or fat can affect more than a product’s nutritional composition, with potential implications for taste, texture, functionality and shelf life.

Understanding how individual nutrients influence an NPM score can help manufacturers identify where changes may deliver the greatest benefit, rather than approaching reformulation as a series of broad ingredient reductions.

For ingredient suppliers and technology providers, this also highlights the importance of solutions that help manufacturers improve nutritional profiles while maintaining the characteristics required of finished products.

The tool is also available to retailers, with an interactive decision tree designed to explain which restrictions apply to different retail environments.

Free resource for manufacturers

The HFSS Advice Tool is the latest resource from FDF Scotland’s Reformulation for Health Programme, which provides free support to small and medium-sized Scottish food and drink manufacturers looking to make their products healthier.

Developed in collaboration with the University of Stirling and University of Glasgow, with funding from Scotland Food & Drink, the tool is available free of charge.

Joanne Burns, FDF Scotland’s Reformulation for Health manager, said: “The HFSS Advice Tool is more than a calculator, it’s a catalyst for healthier product innovation.”

She added that it would help businesses understand NPM scores, front-of-pack labelling and health claims, while showing how close products are to achieving healthier outcomes.

“We want to make reformulation clearer, more achievable and more impactful for businesses across Scotland,” she said.

The tool is available at www.HFSSAdviceTool.org.uk.

Businesses seeking further reformulation support can contact FDF Scotland at [email protected].