Philippine Nutrient Profile Model paves way for robust food policies, saves poor families from NCDs

PRESS RELEASE

June 17, 2026

Health network: Philippine Nutrient Profile Model paves way for robust food policies, saves poor families from NCDs

The final approval of the Philippine Nutrient Profile Model (PNPM) lays the groundwork for impactful food policies that protect Filipinos, especially poor families, from the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), stated the Healthy Philippines Alliance (HPA), a patient-led civil society network convened by HealthJustice.

This is after the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Governing Board, chaired by the Department of Health (DOH), approved with finality the PNPM, following multiple review and public consultations with stakeholders from civil society, medical groups, and the food industry.

“Sadly, many Filipino families, especially poor and vulnerable households, are forced to consume unhealthy packaged foods because they are cheap and convenient. But no Filipino family or child deserves to die or suffer from the physical and financial burden of preventable NCDs like heart disease, diabetes or cancer,” said Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan, former Health Secretary and lead convener of the HPA.

“We see the PNPM, as a critical consumer protection measure that puts the people’s health first. Through this tool, our policy makers are guided in improving our food environment where nutritious options become the choice for every Filipino family to avoid obesity and other NCDs. Every Filipino deserves access to food that supports rather than harms their health,” Galvez Tan added.

The group further reminded government implementing agencies to remain transparent, eliminate conflicts of interest, and reject interference from the food industry upon application of the PNPM to guide regulatory policies like mandatory front-of-pack food warning labels and marketing restrictions.

Galvez Tan argued, “The PNPM has no policy application yet, so it is premature for the food industry to claim that it will negatively impact the poor, businesses, and the livelihood of farmers or fisherfolk. But drawing from the experience of other countries that used their nutrient profile model to implement policies like front-of-pack labeling, there has been no ill effect whatsoever on food costs, food supply, business operations, or the agricultural sector.”

Meanwhile, HPA member, Diabetes Philippines, emphasized that rigorous nutrition standards and strong food policies are essential to guide consumers toward healthier food choices and encourage a return to traditional dietary patterns centered on nutritious, minimally processed foods.

“Traditional Filipino diets once helped protect people from chronic diseases. Today, however, the growing consumption of ultra-processed foods has contributed to an alarming rise in metabolic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes, even among younger Filipinos. The Philippine Nutrient Profile Model (PNPM), together with strong food policies, can serve as an important tool in guiding consumers toward healthier food choices and away from products high in sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats. Ultimately, our goal is to encourage Filipino families to return to dietary patterns centered on a variety of nutritious, whole foods, as reflected in the Pinggang Pinoy model,” said Jennina Duatin, Nutritionist-Dietitian and Board of Trustee of Diabetes Philippines.

“We anticipate that these interventions will not only encourage healthier food choices among Filipinos but also increase demand for fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, and other fresh produce from our farmers and fisherfolk. We also hope they will drive the reformulation of packaged foods, leading to a healthier food supply and better options that are lower in sugar, sodium, and unhealthy fats,” Duatin continued.

The PNPM institutes thresholds based on World Health Organization recommendations for sugar, sodium, and saturated fats to avoid obesity and NCDs. It creates a clear mechanism to classify which pre-packaged processed and ultra-processed food products exceed the limits and will need regulation and reformulation.

NNC Officer-in-Charge Executive Director IV, Atty. Rosalina U. Bascao said, “We are pleased to champion a policy framework designed to foster healthier consumer choices and contribute to curbing the prevalence of obesity and diet-related diseases. We look forward to supporting legislative proposals that harness this tool to strengthen public health regulations.”

The PNPM was designed to divide products into categories like pastries, cereals, sugar-sweetened beverages, and so on according to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulatory and product registration system using the CODEX General Standards for Food Additives (CODEX GSFA). Exempted in the PNPM are infant and follow-on formula milk, complementary food for children 6-35 months old, food for special medical purpose, and culinary single ingredient products.

Per category, the thresholds set are as follows: