No more cereal at the end of the aisle? New rules in Scotland's supermarkets
Restrictions are being put on products with high sugar, fat and salt content, but the meal deal lives on.
No more cereal at the end of the aisle? New rules in Scotland's supermarkets
Sugary soft drinks, biscuits and some breakfast cereals have been removed from prominent spots in Scotland’s supermarkets.
The Scottish government has brought in rules that mean some products high in fat, sugar and salt can no longer be placed in prime end-of-aisle positions, or included in multi-buy offers in stores or online.
The regulations cover the usual suspects - chocolate, crisps, biscuits and ice cream.
But they could also apply to kombucha, seaweed snacks, muesli and chewing gum, depending on their sugar content.
This could affect supermarkets, high street shops, restaurants, pharmacies, petrol stations and garden centres.
They are no longer permitted to display pre-packaged foods including sugary soft drinks, confectionery, biscuits and breakfast cereals in prominent places such as entrances, checkouts, aisle ends and designated queueing areas.
Price promotions on those items - such as "three for the price of two", "three for £10" or "buy five and save 20%" - are no longer allowed.
Multi-buy offers, including extra loyalty points, are also banned.
Another deal that breaks the rules is one offering a free high-sugar, fat or salt product with another purchase - for example, a free chocolate bar with a newspaper.
There are no restrictions on discounts such as half-price or "save £1".
Online retailers also face restrictions - including a ban on advertising some foods on their homepage.
In England, price or multibuy promotions on unhealthy food and drink were banned in October 2025
Wales followed in March
The short answer is: a lot, if there’s enough sugar, salt or fat packed into it.
The restrictions could apply to:
Drinks with added sugar - such as lemonade, soda, squash, chocolate milk, almond milk, ready-made coffee, kombucha, energy drinks, and hot chocolate
Savoury snacks such as crisps and tortilla chips, and even lentil-based crisps and seaweed snacks, depending on their content
Breakfast cereals, granola, muesli and oat-based cereals
Pre-made pizzas, roast potatoes, chips, fish fingers and chicken nuggets
Ready meals, as well as pasta, rice or noodles with added ingredients or fillings, such as ravioli and tortellini
Confectionery, such as popcorn, chocolate, chewing gum and sweets
Ice cream, sorbets, ice lollies, sponge cakes, custard, jelly, crumbles
Cereal bars, biscuits, scones, flapjacks, doughnuts and Danish pastries
Sweetened Greek-style, probiotic, kids' and drinking yoghurts
Meal deals are exempt from the regulations, as are "dine for two" offers.
However, any foods identified in the rules, whether part of a meal deal or not, cannot be placed in the restricted locations, such as supermarket entrances.
The Scottish government regulations are being introduced to encourage healthier eating choices.
Public Health Minister Maree Todd noted that two out of three Scottish adults are overweight or obese, with those living in the poorest areas worst affected.
She said: "We know that promotions and prominent product placement can encourage over-consumption and impulse buying of foods with high levels of calories, fat, sugar and salt.
"By restricting the promotion of less healthy food and drink we can make it easier for people to make healthier choices, improving health and wellbeing, and create a Scotland where everyone eats well and has a healthy weight."