Singapore: Ministry of Health announces extension

in short

The Ministry of Health (MOH) will extend nutritional grade labeling requirements and advertising restrictions to products high in sodium and saturated fat, such as prepackaged salts, sauces and seasonings; instant noodles; and cooking oils. These measures are designed to help consumers make healthier choices and encourage industry reformulation.

Currently, the Department of Health has implemented nutritional grade labeling requirements for sugar and saturated fat content in prepackaged and freshly prepared beverages (see our February 2023 and December 2022 customer alerts for more details).

On 22 August 2024, the Ministry of Health reported on the effectiveness of these measures in reducing sugar content in beverages on the market and the total sugar intake of Singapore residents. In particular, the Ministry of Health stated that the median sugar content of pre-packaged nutrition-grade beverages has dropped from 7.1% in 2017 to 4.6% as of September 2023, with 69% of beverages purchased as of September 2023 being ” A” or “A” grade “B”, up from 37% in 2017.

Given the effectiveness of these measures, the Ministry of Health now hopes to reduce the sodium and saturated fat intake of Singaporeans, citing residents’ sodium intake of nearly twice the recommended daily intake and rising rates of hypertension. rise.

To achieve this goal, the Department of Health announced the extension of nutritional grade labeling requirements and advertising bans to the major contributors to sodium and saturated fat intake. First, the requirements will apply to prepackaged salts, sauces and seasonings; instant noodles; and cooking oils.

Nutritional grade labeling measures are designed to help customers make smarter, healthier choices by identifying products high in sodium and saturated fat; drive industry restructuring; and reduce the impact of advertising on consumer preferences.

The Department of Health will hold further consultations with industry over the coming months on the details of implementing trophic level measures.

Nutri-Grade requirements were rolled out quickly. Requirements on the sugar and saturated fat content of pre-packaged drinks come into effect on 30 December 2022, with the same requirements being introduced for freshly prepared drinks from the end of 2023. Less than a year after they were last implemented, further trophic level requirements have been announced. This may indicate the possibility of further expansion in the near future, perhaps involving the sodium and saturated fat content of other types of food, such as snacks.

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