Manila: The final approval of the Philippine Nutrient Profile Model (PNPM) has established the framework for robust food policies aimed at protecting Filipinos, particularly low-income families, from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), a health group said Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Healthy Philippines Alliance (HPA), a patient-led network, issued the statement after the National Nutrition Council (NNC) Governing Board, chaired by the Department of Health (DOH), finalized the PNPM following extensive public consultations with medical groups, civil society, 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," HPA lead convenor Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan said.
The model sets strict limits for sugar, sodium, and saturated fats based on World Health Organization guidelines to curb obesity and chronic illnesses. It establishes a mechanism to identify pre-packaged, processed, and ultra-processed food products that exceed these thresholds, signaling a need for regulatory oversight and product reformulation. It categorizes food items based on the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) registration system using the CODEX General Standards for Food Additives (CODEX GSFA).
Under the guidelines, exemptions are granted to infant and follow-on formula, complementary food for children aged 6 to 35 months, food for special medical purposes, and single-ingredient culinary products. Per food category, the approved nutritional thresholds are set as follows: Total Fat: Less than 30 percent of energy or calories per serving; Saturated Fat: Less than 10 percent of energy; Total Sugar: Less than 10 percent of energy; Added Sugar: 0 grams; Non-Sugar Sweeteners: 0 grams; Sodium: 1 mg per 1 kcal.
Galvez, who is also a former DOH secretary, noted that the PNPM is a critical consumer protection measure that prioritizes the people's health. "Through this tool, our policymakers 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," he added.
The alliance urged implementing agencies to maintain transparency, eliminate conflicts of interest, and reject food industry interference as the PNPM begins to guide regulatory policies, such as mandatory front-of-pack food warning labels and marketing restrictions. Addressing concerns raised by commercial sectors, Galvez Tan clarified that the model has not yet been applied to specific regulations, making claims of negative economic impacts premature.
"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. Citing the experience of other countries that used their nutrient profile model to implement policies like front-of-pack labeling, Galvez Tan argued that no ill effect on food costs, food supply, business operations, or the agricultural sector were reported in such countries.
Meanwhile, Diabetes Philippines (DP), an HPA member organization, emphasized that stringent nutrition standards are critical to countering the rise of metabolic conditions linked to ultra-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," DP Board of Trustees member Jennina Duatin said.
Duatin, a nutritionist-dietitian, explained that the PNPM could encourage Filipino families to return to dietary patterns centered on a variety of nutritious, whole foods, as reflected in the Pinggang Pinoy model. She added that these policy interventions are expected to drive the reformulation of packaged items while simultaneously boosting domestic demand for fresh produce, agricultural goods, and local catches.
NNC officer-in-charge Executive Director IV Rosalina Bascao expressed the council's commitment to supporting the framework as a foundational element for future public health legislation. "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," Bascao said.
