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Healthier choices on the high street
New rules on promoting and displaying high fat, sugar and salt foods aim to make healthier choices easier for people across Scotland.
New regulations affecting the sale and placement of foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) are set to come into effect across Scotland from 1 October 2026, marking a significant step in efforts to support healthier eating and improve public health.
The changes will restrict where certain HFSS products can be displayed in larger retail stores and online. Foods such as confectionery, biscuits, crisps, sugary soft drinks and some breakfast cereals will no longer be permitted in prominent locations including store entrances, checkouts and aisle ends. Certain price promotions, including some multi-buy offers and free refills of sugary drinks, will also be restricted.
The regulations apply to medium and large businesses with 50 or more employees, while smaller retailers are exempt from the placement restrictions. The Scottish Government says the measures are designed to create a food environment that makes healthier choices more visible and accessible, rather than limiting what people can buy.
According to the Scottish Government, two in three adults in Scotland are overweight or obese, with the greatest impacts often felt in communities experiencing higher levels of disadvantage. Research suggests that prominent product placement and promotions can encourage impulse purchases and increased consumption of foods high in calories, fat, sugar and salt.
Public Health Minister Maree Todd said the changes are intended to help people make healthier decisions in their everyday lives. The Scottish Government believes that reducing the promotion of less healthy foods can contribute to improved wellbeing and support efforts to tackle health inequalities across the country.
Ms Todd said:
”We have engaged extensively with business and industry extensively in developing this approach. These restrictions strike a balance between improving the health of people in Scotland whilst reducing any potential effects on smaller businesses and shops.”
For rural and island communities, where access to services and retail choices can differ from urban areas, the regulations will be implemented alongside wider efforts to improve the nation’s diet and support healthy weight. By encouraging a better balance of products in stores and online, the measures aim to ensure that healthier options are easier to find wherever people live.
Ewan MacDonald-Russell, Deputy Head of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said:
“We hope this approach, where industry is meaningfully consulted and government acts in a constructive manner, can serve as a model going forward as we work in partnership to make Scotland a healthier and wealthier nation.”
The regulations build on similar measures already introduced elsewhere in the UK and form part of a broader programme of action to improve Scotland’s food environment and population health.
