Freshly made beverages including bubble tea and smoothies to display Nutri-Grade labels by end 2023
Prepacked and automatically dispensed beverages started carrying the labels since Dec 30, 2022.
Nutri-Grade labelling and advertising prohibitions will be extended to freshly prepared beverages, announced the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a press release on Monday (Feb 13).
These include freshly brewed coffee or tea, fresh juices, freshly blended smoothies, bubble tea, freshly made herbal drinks, and beverages purchased from vending machines.
This is an extension of previous requirements on prepacked and automatically dispensed beverages implemented on Dec 30, 2022. These measures aim to reduce Singaporean’s sugar intake, said MOH.
By the end of 2023, freshly made beverages sold in settings like food and beverage outlets and non-retail settings such as hotels, educational institutions, healthcare institutions, childcare facilities, and workplaces will feature Nutri-Grade labels.
The Nutri-Grade levels help customers identify how much sugar and saturated fat is contained in a specific beverage. Outlets selling drinks with toppings, such as bubble tea brands, will also need to display the sugar levels of the individual toppings.
The Nutri-Grades are mandatory on beverages with a C and D grade. Additionally, advertisements for D-graded beverages will not be allowed.
These measures will apply to all businesses involved in the production and sale of freshly prepared beverages, with the exception of small food businesses that sell or supply beverages at less than 10 food premises and earn not more than $1 million in the latest financial year.
MOH and HPB are working towards publishing the measures in the Government Gazette in mid-2023. The measures will come into effect six months thereafter at the end of 2023.
