Extra low-sugar stage drinks bought as grading system rolls out on Dec 30

SINGAPORE: Extra persons are buying more healthy drinks in Singapore, forward of the roll out of Nutri-Grade labels for pre-packaged drinks on Friday (Dec 30).

The four-level Nutri-Grade system relies on the sugar and saturated fats content material in drinks. It’s colour-coded: A (darkish inexperienced), B (gentle inexperienced), C (orange) and D (purple), with A being the class with the bottom sugar and fats thresholds.

Drinks which are graded C or D should have their labels on the entrance of the bundle, stated MOH. If bought on-line, or from a merchandising machine or a buyer-facing automated beverage dispenser, the picture of the Nutri-Grade mark should be displayed in response to the laws.

Commercials are additionally prohibited for grade D drinks most often.

The Ministry of Well being (MOH) stated on Thursday that it has famous an “encouraging improve” within the gross sales of drinks which might have been given A or B grades, rising from 37 per cent in FY2017 to 71 per cent in FY2021. 

“There at the moment are extra more healthy options similar to low- and zero-sugar choices for sodas, Asian drinks and ready-to-drink teas. Some greater sugar juices have been reformulated via mixing with lower-sugar fruit and veggies, or reconstituted to turn out to be a juice drink.”

The ministry added that the vary of more healthy all-in-one coffees and teas with decrease saturated fats has additionally elevated from 24 per cent in FY2017 to 36 per cent in FY2021.

Drinks that can bear the Nutri-Grade labels embrace these prepacked in bottles, cans, cartons or packets; powders or concentrates similar to 3-in-1 instantaneous espresso drinks and cordials, in addition to drinks disbursed from automated beverage dispensers similar to fountain drinks and automatic espresso machines.