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Pick up useful tips and hacks on adopting healthier
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Nutri-Grade mark
The new Nutri-Grade mark helps you identify healthier packaged drinks, from Grade A being the lowest in sugar and saturated fat content, to Grade D being the highest.
Why was the Nutri-Grade mark developed?
High sugar intake is linked to an increased risk of obesity and diabetes. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends reducing sugar intake for better health. However, Singaporeans are consuming on average 12 teaspoons (or
60g) of sugar daily, with beverages, in particular packaged drinks, contributing to more than half of our daily sugar intake. This exceeds WHO’s recommended daily sugar intake of 10 teaspoons (or 50g).
In addition to sugar, saturated fats are often used in beverages within the Singapore market to improve the “mouth-feel” of the beverage. However, a high intake of saturated fats will impair insulin action1, which
can increase the risk of diabetes.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) together with the Health Promotion Board (HPB) have introduced the Nutri-Grade mark to help consumers make more informed, healthier choices. It is mandatory for packaged drinks graded “C” and “D” to be labelled, with drinks graded “D“ subject to advertising prohibition measures due to the higher sugar and saturated fats content.
1UK Scientific Advisory Committee on Health: Saturated fats and health (2018); Meyer et al. (2001); Riserus, Willet and Hu
The mandatory nutrition label, called “Nutri-Grade” has four colour-coded grades. Grade A, corresponding to the lowest amounts of sugar and saturated fats, is in green. In addition to the grades, we can also find the sugar level of the beverage on the label as a percentage of the total volume. We can also compare the sugar levels within the same grade to help our purchasing decisions.
Nutri-Grade beverages graded “A” or “B” can be spotted with the Nutri-Grade mark on its own, with only the Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS), or with both together on the product packaging. As it is not mandatory for Nutri-Grade A or B beverages to be labelled with the mark, some packaged drinks will not have the Nutri-Grade mark or HCS on them if they choose not to display the Nutri-Grade mark or have not signed up for HCS.
Nutri-Grade beverages graded “C” or “D” will be labelled with a Nutri-Grade mark on the front of its package so we can identify them easily.
We can use the Nutri-Grade mark to help guide our beverage purchases. Even if a beverage is graded Nutri-Grade “C“ or “D“, it can still be consumed if done in moderation. This is especially so for consumers with specific needs, such as parents of young children, who still require full-cream milk for their 1 to 2 year old children (2 to 3 cups a day), or seniors who may have difficulties chewing whole fruits and require 100% fruit juice to supplement their nutritional needs (no more than 1 cup a day).
From 30 th December 2022, Nutri-Grade marks are required to be on all pre-packaged beverages (graded “C” or “D”) sold in Singapore. Similarly, the mark is also required to be labelled next to the beverage on online retail sites and machines. From end 2023, the Nutri-Grade mark will be further extended to freshly prepared beverages.
Look out for Nutri-Grade beverages graded “A” or “B” or the Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS), or simply drink water to help us keep our intake of sugar and saturated fat to the minimum.
Explore the wide range of Nutri-Grade A and B drinks to help limit your intake of sugar and saturated fat here.
1. What is the difference between the Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) and Nutri-Grade for packaged drinks?
The Nutri-Grade mark is a labelling scheme for beverages based on their sugar and saturated fats content, while the HCS is a voluntary scheme for product manufacturers. Both the Nutri-Grade mark and the HCS are
complementary programmes, and will continue to co-exist.
To help us choose healthier beverages, look for HCS, Nutri-Grade A or B drinks, or simply choose water to reduce our sugar and saturated fats intake.
Nutri-Grade
Healthier
Choice Symbol (HCS)
Nature of scheme
- Labelling is mandatory for beverages graded “C” and “D”
- Labelling is optional for beverages graded “A” and “B”
- Labelling is voluntary across different food & beverage products
- Products are at least 25% lower in sugar and saturated fats compared to products in the same category
Nutritional criteria
- Applicable for beverages based on sugar and saturated fats content
- Applicable for Nutri-Grade beverages graded “A” and “B” based on sugar and saturated fats content
- Includes other nutritional aspects such as sodium, calcium and wholegrain content
2. When would Nutri-Grade be extended to freshly prepared beverages?
Extension of Nutri-Grade measures to freshly brewed beverages are currently in consideration and are expected to be put in place by the end of 2023.
3. Why are some drinks graded “C” or “D” but show 0% sugar content?
Drinks and beverages are graded based on both sugar and saturated fat content. Even if the beverage does not contain any sugar which results in a 0% in sugar content, it may still contain higher in saturated fats
content i.e., above 1.2 grams per 100ml, as a result of saturated fats being added to improve the “mouth-feel” or creaminess of the beverage.
To help us choose healthier beverages, look for HCS, Nutri-Grade A or B drinks, or simply choose water to reduce our sugar and saturated fats intake.
Healthier Choice Symbol
Choosing healthier groceries
Shopping for healthier food choices? Just look out for the Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS). The HCS can be found on the packaging of more than 4,000 different food products across over 100 food categories - such as convenience meals, sauces, beverages, snacks and breakfast cereals. HCS makes it easier to find healthier choice products when we’re out shopping!
Make the healthier choice today!
As compared to regular products within the same category, products carrying the Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) are generally higher in wholegrains, calcium, and lower in sodium, sugar, and saturated fat.
Read MoreWhen we are shopping
Focus on a few key nutrients
Keep an eye out for specific nutrients that have a bigger impact on your health.
Individuals with
weight concerns
Pick products with more dietary fibre, fewer calories, and lower fat and sugar content. The serving size can help you decide how much to eat in one sitting.
Individuals with diabetes
Take note of the carbohydrate and fibre content, as they affect blood sugar levels.
Individuals with hypertension
Choose products with lower sodium content.
Nutrition Information Panel
How do we use the Nutrition Information Panel (NIP)?
The NIP can help us make healthier food choices by showing us the amount of nutrients we are getting out of each serving of food.
As the serving sizes of these two products differ, comparing them using the “per serving” values would be inaccurate.
- We can make a fair comparison only by using values in the “per 100g” column.
- Bread A contains lower fat, lower saturated fat, and higher dietary fibre than Bread B. Thus it is a healthier choice compared to Bread B.
Here’s a sample NIP for a pack of dried apricots:
Read this article to learn more about how serving sizes can help us figure out a suitable portion:
Compare our nutritional intake against the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) to check if we are eating the optimal portions for our health.
Learn MoreHealthier Dining Programme
Learning about the Healthier Dining Programme
Whether we are eating out, ordering takeaway or a delivery, there is a variety of healthier and delicious meals for our enjoyment.
Look out for healthier choice identifiers at hawker centres, restaurants, cafes, kiosks, and many more!
Recommended Reads:
Tips on Cooking Wholegrains
Learn MoreHow to Choose the Correct Cooking Oil
Learn MoreRestaurant Guide to Healthier Eating
Learn MoreUseful tools
Sodium Calculator
We consume nearly twice the sodium* we need. This leads to health risks such as hypertension, heart failure and stroke.
Check your sodium intake with our calculator to ensure you’re within the daily recommended amount of 2,000 mg.
*Sodium is a mineral that is found in salt and also occurs naturally in foods
Calorie Calculator
Find out your recommended calories requirement for the day with the Calorie Calculator and use the Healthy 365 Meal Log tool below to track your daily intake.
Healthy 365 Meal Log Tool
Track your daily calorie intake easily with the Meal Log tool on the Healthy 365 app and understand your eating habits over time. You can then make necessary changes to improve your diet or achieve your weight management goals.
BMI Calculator
Are you in the healthy range? Use this tool to calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI) now to understand your risk level for obesity-related diseases. A BMI value of 23 and above is outside the healthy weight range for your height. Find out more on how to achieve and maintain a healthy BMI through a healthy and active lifestyle.
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Nutri-Grade A and B Drinks
Explore the list of healthier drink options that can help to limit your intake of sugar and saturated fat.
Food Energy and Nutrient Composition
Search for the energy and nutrient composition of basic ingredients and common local food.
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