The Food Standards Agency will this week defy the recommendations of an independent review of its controversial nutrient profiling model and retain the protein cap, thegrocer.co.uk understands.

The FSA is expected to recommend at its latest board meeting on 25 March that the model – used by media regulator Ofcom to determine which foods can be advertised on children’s TV – retains the cap, which limits the amount of fat, sugar or salt contained in foods deemed ‘healthy’.

Removing the cap would have meant that adverts for a number of additional products, including some breakfast cereals and some crisps, could have returned to TV screens during children’s programming.

The move comes despite the findings of a review panel that recommended the protein cap be dropped.

Last year suppliers slammed the body for refusing to consider changes to the model, which the body insisted was “scientifically robust and fit for purpose” despite concerns over the relevance of its 100g base portion size.