Food, drink and supplements

Helpful information on how to advertise Food, Drink and Supplements in line with the advertising rules, and examples of previous Advertising Standards Authority rulings in this area.

The advertising of food, drink and supplements has come under scrutiny for a variety of reasons, such as concerns around promoting the consumption of unhealthy foods or making dubious nutritional claims. To protect consumers, especially children, and prevent them from being misled, we have strict rules in place for the advertising of food, drink and supplements.

When it comes to children, the emphasis is on advertisers creating responsible ads and the rules make clear they should not promote poor nutritional habits or unhealthy lifestyles. Advertisers are not allowed to use licensed characters in food and drink ads targeted at children, nor can they feature sales promotions in content targeted at this audience. We have also previously banned ads that exploit children’s vulnerability by suggesting they would be inferior if they did not eat or buy the product being advertised, and ads that have encouraged “pester power”.

Another key aspect of advertising food, drink and supplements is the promotion of the product’s health benefits. Advertisers are, of course, entitled to bring to the public’s attention the nutritional worth of their products but the rules in place are tough. The Advertising Codes reflect wide-reaching EU legislation and advertisers must hold evidence for authorised health claims as required by an EU Register. Claims that state or imply a food, drink or supplement prevents, treats or cures human disease are not permitted under any circumstances. Reduction of disease claims are allowed but only if they appear on the EU Register and only if they are presented clearly without exaggeration.

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Latest rulings

EllaOla Brands Inc t/a EllaOlla
- Upheld
- Social media (paid ad)
- 10 December 2025
A paid-for Facebook ad for a supplement retailer made claims that a food supplement could help reduce traits of autism and made medicinal claims for products that weren’t authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The ad also made unauthorised health claims, falsely implied they...
Get Dopa Ltd
- Upheld
- Social media (paid ad)
- 10 December 2025
A paid-for Facebook ad for a supplement brand make claims that a food supplement could prevent, treat or cure ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions. The ad also made medicinal claims for products that weren’t authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and made unauthorised spe...
Healthbio Ltd
- Upheld
- Social media (paid ad)
- 10 December 2025
A paid-for Facebook ad for a supplement brand made claims that a food supplement could prevent, treat or cure ADHD and made medicinal claims for products that weren’t authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The ad also made unauthorised specific health claims.
Impact Herbs t/a Impact Subs
- Upheld
- Search (paid), Social media (paid ad)
- 10 December 2025
A paid-for Meta ad for a prostate health supplement made claims that a food supplement could prevent, treat or cure enlarged prostate and symptoms of prostate problems. The ad also made medicinal claims for products that weren’t authorised by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

View all rulings

Food, drink and supplements

Helpful information on how to advertise Food, Drink and Supplements in line with the advertising rules, and examples of previous Advertising Standards Authority rulings in this area.

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Latest rulings

EllaOla Brands Inc t/a EllaOlla

Get Dopa Ltd

Healthbio Ltd

Impact Herbs t/a Impact Subs

Help getting it right

Popular advice

Consultation on the implementation of the “less healthy” food and drink product advertising restrictions

Food: HFSS Media Placement

Multi-Level Marketing

Relevant codes

13 Weight control and slimming

12 Weight control and slimming

15 Food, food supplements and associated health or nutrition claims

13 Food, food supplements and associated health or nutrition claims