Voluntary reformulation targets lead to minimal change in sugar content: interim assessment of Australia's Healthy Food Partnership.

Mariel Keaney, Alexandra Jones, Eden M Barrett, Daisy H Coyle, Damian Maganja

Abstract read

In one paragraph

Article in European journal of clinical nutrition, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Mariel KeaneyThe George Institute for Global Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0009-0008-7435-1926

Alexandra JonesThe George Institute for Global Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

Eden M BarrettThe George Institute for Global Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-0190-6130

Daisy H CoyleThe George Institute for Global Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-8904-0671

Damian MaganjaThe George Institute for Global Health, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. DMaganja@georgeinstitute.org.au.ORCID 0000-0003-1245-3288

Funding

Department of Health | National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) APP2006620

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Reformulation of foods and beverages is a key policy intervention recommended by the World Health Organization to reduce non-communicable disease risks. Our aim was to report on progress under the Australian Government's Healthy Food Partnership sugars reformulation program since its introduction in 2021, using packaged food data from 2021 and 2023. 74% of n = 1694 in-scope products already met the targets at program inception in 2021. No improvements were found in 2023, with compliance slightly decreasing to 73% of n = 1676 in-scope products (p > 0.05). Only the carbonated soft drinks and energy drinks sub-category saw a significant change in mean sugars content between 2021 and 2023 (11.2 g/100 mL v 11.0 g/100 mL, p < 0.001). While limited progress towards reformulation targets was expected given the program is voluntary, demonstrably weak targets further compromise the program's potential public health benefit. Stronger, mandatory interventions are required.

Indexed as

Dietary SugarsDiet, HealthyHealth PromotionNutrition PolicyAustraliaBeveragesCarbonated BeveragesHumansDietary Sugars

Identifiers

PMID41291213

DOI10.1038/s41430-025-01682-2

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.