About the NPPM
The NPPM is a Nutrient and Promotion Profile Model, created by the WHO’s Collaborating Centre in Nutritional Epidemiology at the University of Leeds.
It uses information on product packaging to assess the appropriateness of commercial baby foods.
- First nutrient profile model to focus on infant foods
- Assessing not only nutrients, but promotions too (the second ‘P’!)
- The only nutrient profile model with a handy online tool designed by the model’s creators, making application easy and transparent.
Our journey so far
Infant nutrition has been on WHO’s agenda for some time. In the last few years, together with our University of Leeds Collaborating Centre, we’ve been on quite a journey.
Nutrition in infancy is key to optimal growth and development, and in shaping food preferences for the future.
But not all baby foods support public health dietary recommendations.
That’s why the WHO started work to develop the NPPM.
In 2016, the World Health Assembly approved WHO guidance to end inappropriate promotion of infant foods.
In 2018 we commissioned the creation of our first Nutrient Profile Model for baby foods.
- We followed WHO’s guidance steps for developing Nutrient Profile Models.
- We used existing European Commission directives and Codex standards for food categories and nutrient thresholds.
- We also identified gaps where existing guidelines did not address key concerns, such as sugar intake.
- We trialled the model with 10 countries across Europe (involving 2634 baby food products). Following this feedback we refined the categories and nutrient thresholds, to make it easier to use.
In 2019 we published our first NPM, which paved the way for the NPPM we have today.
In 2021 we consulted key stakeholders across WHO Europe. Based on feedback we started work to make the model even better.
In 2022 we published our new NPPM, which is now available to you in our handy online tool.
Our mission
- Protect breastfeeding
- Promote a healthy diet which supports prevention of obesity and chronic diseases
- Provide caregivers with clear and accurate information
The NPPM allows you to evaluate products and generate evidence about unsuitable nutrient compositions and promotional practices.
Over to you
By using the NPPM you’re taking a crucial first step towards implementing WHO guidance for complementary infant foods. Using the knowledge from this tool, you’ll have the power to
- develop policy where you are
- update guidelines and legislation
- drive product reformulation
- remove unsuitable product messaging
