Singapore targets sodium, fat in sauces, instant noodles with compulsory health labels from mid-2027
SINGAPORE, April 6 – Singapore will now mandate Nutri-Grade labels on salt, sauces, seasonings and instant noodles sold here by mid-2027, as part of government efforts to reduce chronic diseases through healthier eating.
Announcing the move at the Singapore Heart Foundation's 55th anniversary event today, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the initiative aims to encourage consumers to make better food choices and reduce their intake of sodium and saturated fat.
'Good health does not come at a high cost at all. It is about picking up simple habits, being more physically active, having good sleep habits, cutting down (on) salt, sauces, cooking oil,' Ong was quoted saying by The Straits Times.
'When we cook, opting for products with the healthier choice. I think it may taste different initially. It requires some getting used to. But before long... you start tasting the ingredients rather than tasting the sauce.'
Products will be graded from A to D, with D indicating the least healthy option due to high levels of sodium, sugar or saturated fat, and these cannot be advertised.
ST wrote that, for example, if an instant noodle's sodium content is rated C, but its saturated fat is rated D — the overall grade will be D, with saturated fat highlighted on the label.
https://www.facebook.com/SingaporeMOH/posts/pfbid02zJUY6L3ZwE6ff1bWo2RtRTxfmx8qMHP5wVBNtbnXXw7o2CvgVqrYyV4n3avqAxjUl
The Nutri-Grade label will also show which specific ingredient — such as sodium or saturated fat — led to the product's overall rating, helping consumers understand the health implications.
This expansion follows the Nutri-Grade scheme for beverages introduced in December 2020, which led to a drop in the median sugar level of pre-packaged drinks from 7.1 per cent in 2017 to 4.6 per cent in 2023.
The new scheme introduces category-specific grading for 23 food sub-categories, including salt, cooking oil, ketchup, oyster sauce, soup bases, and instant noodles, each with tailored criteria.
The 2022 National Nutrition Survey found that 90 per cent of Singaporeans consumed an average of 3,620mg of sodium daily—almost double the recommended limit of 2,000mg.
Saturated fat intake also exceeded guidelines, contributing to high rates of hypertension and high cholesterol, affecting 37 per cent and 31.9 per cent of the population respectively.
Currently, 40 per cent of salt, sauces, seasonings, instant noodles and cooking oils sold fall under the lowest D grade, according to authorities.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
YAHOO POLL: Do you think getting Botox is safe?
There are a growing number of young Singaporeans (in their 20s and 30s) who are getting injectables to improve their facial appearances, according to a recent report by The Straits Times (ST). Despite the risks of such cosmetic enhancements and the unnatural appearance seen in Hollywood celebrities who have undergone such treatments, dermatologists and aestheticians have noted an increase of between 10 and 20 per cent in the number of young people in Singapore who use injectables for cosmetic reasons since 2020. Aside from incorrect techniques or over-treatment, some of the side effects include a loss of muscle and decrease in their strength, reduced effectiveness over time, and even addiction or over-reliance on injectables. These treatments aren't permanent and injections are administered quarterly or yearly, with the frequency depending on the kind of treatment sought. Other polls YAHOO POLL: Would you date someone shorter than you? YAHOO POLL: Have you completed Malaysia's VEP requirement? YAHOO POLL: Are exclusive concerts the way to go for Singapore tourism right now? For younger patients, Botox isn't about melting wrinkles and frown lines, or to 'freeze' the ageing process. They're also using it to tweak their appearances. A patient who underwent the treatment told ST that after getting the Botox and fillers, "the results were so good that I wanted to try more procedures". So, we want to hear from you – Do you think that getting Botox is safe? Related: I'm in my 40s. Is it too late to try Botox? Cosmetic procedures are more accessible – and less taboo – than ever before. Younger women are going along for the ride. Study finds deceptively simple solution to attractiveness beats botox
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Measles immunity required for maids working in households with young kids not fully vaccinated
SINGAPORE - From September, employers of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) must ensure that their helper is immune to measles if their household has a child under the age of seven who is not fully vaccinated against the disease. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) said in a release on June 10 that this measure will enhance public health resilience and protect unvaccinated young children who are at higher risk of serious health complications from measles infections. At the point of a work permit issuance for new MDWs or renewals for existing MDWs from Sept 1, employers with children below seven years old in the household will be required to declare if the helper is already vaccinated or immune to measles. They may also need to declare if the child in the household is fully vaccinated, or if a vaccination appointment has been scheduled for the helper if she is not yet vaccinated, MOM added. A helper does not need to be vaccinated if she is already immune to measles, or if all children under seven in the household are fully vaccinated. Measles immunity can be acquired through past infection or vaccination. The employer may provide MOM proof of this, such as a completion of vaccination, serology test result or laboratory confirmation of past infection. To be fully vaccinated, two doses of the measles vaccine, available at general practitioner clinics, are required. The cost of two doses is around $80 to $140. The employer has to bear any costs incurred in meeting the measles immunity requirement, said MOM. The ministry encourages those who already has helpers to review their immunity status ahead of work permit renewals. It will conduct sample checks and may request documentary proof of helpers' immunity. If MDWs are required to have measles immunity but are not immune, their work pass privileges may be suspended until valid proof of vaccination is provided. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that is transmitted through the air. Despite high vaccination coverage and population immunity in Singapore, sporadic cases and small clusters of measles are still expected among individuals who are not immune due to the highly transmissible nature of the disease. Given Singapore's position as a major travel hub, the surge in measles cases globally and regionally continues to pose public health risks, particularly for those without immunity, MOM said. The new requirement seeks to minimise the risk of measles transmission to vulnerable children who are not fully protected against the disease. Employers are also strongly encouraged to vaccinate their helpers or ascertain their immunity if there are household members with weakened immune systems. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung ‘dismayed' at $52k bid to rent Tampines HDB clinic; S'pore woman names daughter after Sun Xueling: Singapore live news
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung is "dismayed" at the $52,188 monthly rental bid for a general practitioner (GP) clinic in a Tampines HDB estate as "this must translate to higher cost of healthcare one way or another." I-Health Medical's unusually high bid to operate the 52 sq m ground-floor unit at Block 954C Tampines Street 96 continues to draw attention but a co-owner for the company insists they will not raise prices to compensate for their rental costs. Health Minister Ong said that going forward, bids for future HDB GP clinics will be assessed using a Price-Quality evaluation Model (PQM) that focuses less on price, and more on quality of care. Read more in our live blog below, including the latest local and international news and updates. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has expressed his dismay at the $52,188 monthly rental bid for a general practitioner (GP) clinic in a Tampines HDB estate as "this must translate to higher cost of healthcare one way or another." The health minister made the comment in a Facebook post on 4 June after media reports of I-Health Medical's unusually high tender bid to operate the 52 sq m ground-floor unit at Block 954C Tampines Street 96. Earlier this week, a co-owner for the healthcare firm, Andrew Chim had explained the unit's location near several Build-To-Order projects as well as the surrounding competition justified the high rental amount. Chim, in the same interview with the Straits Times, also said the company would not increase their prices. "Rent is not commensurate with [consultation] fee," Chim said in a separate interview with CNA. "I can assure you that the total bill for different cases will be in range for other heartland clinics." HDB has also moved to assure the public that the rental for this Tampines clinic "does not set any price requirements for future tenders by HDB, and it also will not affect the rentals that HDB is charging other existing clinics." I-Health Medical tendered for the Tampines unit in December 2024 and won it in March. This was before the Ministry of Health (MOH) and HDB had launched a new tender approach for GP clinics at Bartley Beacon last month. Health Minister Ong said that going forward, bids for future HDB GP clinics will be assessed using a Price-Quality evaluation Model (PQM) that focuses less on price, and more on quality of care. "Quality of care will account for 70% of the tender evaluation, and rental 30%," he said. "We will make the new PQM approach the norm, when tendering our GP clinics in our HDB heartlands," Ong said. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has expressed his dismay at the $52,188 monthly rental bid for a general practitioner (GP) clinic in a Tampines HDB estate as "this must translate to higher cost of healthcare one way or another." The health minister made the comment in a Facebook post on 4 June after media reports of I-Health Medical's unusually high tender bid to operate the 52 sq m ground-floor unit at Block 954C Tampines Street 96. Earlier this week, a co-owner for the healthcare firm, Andrew Chim had explained the unit's location near several Build-To-Order projects as well as the surrounding competition justified the high rental amount. Chim, in the same interview with the Straits Times, also said the company would not increase their prices. "Rent is not commensurate with [consultation] fee," Chim said in a separate interview with CNA. "I can assure you that the total bill for different cases will be in range for other heartland clinics." HDB has also moved to assure the public that the rental for this Tampines clinic "does not set any price requirements for future tenders by HDB, and it also will not affect the rentals that HDB is charging other existing clinics." I-Health Medical tendered for the Tampines unit in December 2024 and won it in March. This was before the Ministry of Health (MOH) and HDB had launched a new tender approach for GP clinics at Bartley Beacon last month. Health Minister Ong said that going forward, bids for future HDB GP clinics will be assessed using a Price-Quality evaluation Model (PQM) that focuses less on price, and more on quality of care. "Quality of care will account for 70% of the tender evaluation, and rental 30%," he said. "We will make the new PQM approach the norm, when tendering our GP clinics in our HDB heartlands," Ong said.
