Singapore Introduces Nutri-Grade Labels for Fresh Drinks Including Bubble Tea from Dec 30
Starting from the 30 Dec (tomorrow), a new regulation mandates that all freshly made drinks must display nutri-grade labels.
This initiative encompasses everyone’s all-time favourite: bubble tea.
Earlier in February, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Singapore announced the extension of Nutri-Grade labelling requirements and advertising prohibitions to freshly prepared beverages sold in specific settings across Singapore.
This includes a variety of freshly prepared beverages such as freshly brewed coffee or tea, freshly squeezed juices, freshly blended smoothies, bubble tea, freshly prepared herbal drinks, and those dispensed from machines.
The rationale behind this move is to combat the escalating concern of diabetes among Singaporeans by reducing sugar intake.
Statistics according to MOH suggest that the number of Singapore residents with diabetes could reach one million by 2050 if no action is taken.
A 2021 local meta-analysis, which included studies on Asian populations, found that high consumption of sugary beverages was associated with a 51% increased risk of diabetes compared to lower consumption levels.
Therefore, Singapore is taking another step towards a healthier nation by reducing sugar in sugary beverages, and what better way to start than by tackling the sugar content in bubble tea?
Colour-Coded Grades from A to D
From tomorrow, the Nutri-Grade system, comprising colour-coded grades from A to D, will be implemented.
Grade D represents the highest sugar and/or saturated fat content.
Where will our beloved bubble tea rank in this system?
Although the grade largely depends on the shop and its menu, it’s not uncommon for a bubble tea shop to display a grade D label prominently on their drinks.
Beverages graded “C” or “D” by Nutri-Grade must be labelled with a Nutri-Grade mark next to their listing.
However, labelling is optional for beverages graded ‘A’ or ‘B’.
Your Toppings Are Graded Too
But there’s more to bubble tea than just the drink itself – think about the toppings.
For toppings like pearls, jellies, ice cream, and whipped cream, which can be added to Nutri-Grade beverages, consumers can now refer to sugar declaration marks to identify options lower in sugar content, as per MOH guidelines.
Statistics from Some Favourite Bubble Tea Stores
Let’s delve into the statistics of some well-known bubble tea stores in Singapore.
LiHo
LiHo has been proactive in sourcing new ingredients with lower sugar and saturated fat content.
They have developed a healthier creamer formula for a new range of light milk teas, as explained by their senior marketing executive Ronald Eng, according to CNA.
Interestingly, LiHo’s 100% sugar level is now what used to be 50% sugar.
Nevertheless, the majority of LiHo’s offerings are rated C or D.
Out of 27 drinks, 3 are rated B, 12 are rated C, and 12 are rated D.
The Whale Tea
The Whale Tea also predominantly features drinks graded C (76%), with a mere 7% each for grades A and B.
They are, however, striving to introduce more products rated A for health-conscious customers, shares marketing manager Clement Low.
PlayMade
PlayMade, on the other hand, has most of its drinks in the B and C categories, with some rated A.
Stephanie Soo, the senior marketing manager, remarks that they are not only adjusting sugar levels but also offering alternatives like sugar substitutes, according to The Straits Times.
Each-a-Cup & Gong Cha
However, some chains like Each-a-Cup and Gong Cha have made only minor recipe adjustments to maintain the familiar taste for their customers.
Ivan Chua, business development manager at Each-a-Cup, mentions that most of their drinks will fall into the C and D categories, according to The Straits Times.
Meanwhile, most of Gong Cha’s drinks are graded C, with only slight modifications made to their sweetest offerings.
So, from tomorrow, which bubble tea will you opt for?
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