Some Coffeeshop Chains Have Started to Offer Drinks That Are “Siu Dai by Default”

Singapore’s F&B Industry Takes a Healthier Turn: ‘Siu Dai by Default’ Movement Promotes Lower Sugar Beverages

In Singapore, we are blessed with an array of delightful milk teas.

We’ve got the Taiwanese bubble tea, but we also have our local Teh.

So, for those with a sweet tooth, it might have crossed your mind that even if bubble teas are now Nutri-Grade, you could still go for Teh to satisfy your sugar cravings.

Well, nope.

The Health Promotion Board (HPB) has your well-being covered, bidding farewell to diabetes and high sugar intake.

Good-goodbye..diabetes!

Stop Diabetes, People Don’t Need Any Sugar in Their Diet

Here’s the deal; according to the World Health Organization (WHO), there’s no nutritional necessity for added sugar in our diets.

The WHO has been urging countries to take measures to reduce sugar consumption as much as possible, and the Ministry of Health (MOH) in Singapore has echoed this sentiment.

Consuming excessive sugar has been linked to higher risks of obesity and diabetes, which is the primary cause of kidney failure.

Alarming statistics reveal that on average, six people in Singapore are diagnosed with kidney failure every day, possibly requiring dialysis.

MOH’s projections suggest that if no action is taken, the number of Singapore residents with diabetes could soar to one million by 2050.

While the prevalence of diabetes has stabilised over the past few years, it remains relatively high, affecting approximately one in every 12 Singapore residents.

Introducing the Nutri-Grade System

Since 30 Dec of last year, the Nutri-Grade labeling requirements and advertising restrictions have extended to freshly prepared beverages in a bid to curb sugar consumption.

The Nutri-Grade system, featuring color-coded grades from A to D, indicates the sugar and saturated fat content, with Grade D being the least healthy.

“Siu Dai by Default”: A Complementary Approach

To complement the Nutri-Grade initiative, the HPB has introduced the “Siu Dai by Default” movement.

This encourages food and beverage operators to offer beverages with lower sugar content (i.e., Nutri-Grade “B”) as the default option.

Under this scheme, if customers do not specify their sugar preference, food and beverage providers will serve coffee and tea with less sugar.

Three F&B operators, namely Kopitiam, Kaffe & Toast, and Mr. Teh Tarik, have expressed interest in participating in this campaign.

Kopitiam has already rolled out a reduced sugar menu in six of its outlets, while Mr. Teh Tarik plans to serve coffee and tea with reduced sugar by default in all 28 of its branches.

A spokesperson for Kopitiam revealed that their coffee shops and food courts serve approximately 48,000 cups of beverages daily, according to Shin Min Daily News.

Since late 2021, they have been offering healthier beverage choices across all their outlets.

The six coffee shops and food courts where the “Default Less Sugar” campaign has been implemented are situated at FairPrice Hub, Block 639 Bukit Batok, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Tan Tock Seng Healthcare Innovation Centre, National University Hospital, and Changi General Hospital.

These locations proudly display prominent posters promoting the “Default Less Sugar” campaign.

Notices have also been posted, informing customers that if they prefer their beverages to be sweeter, they can request it from the staff.

When ordering tea, customers are informed that less sugar is the default option and are asked if they wish to adjust it according to their preference.

HPB is actively working to collaborate with major operators, aiming to encourage more businesses to join this movement.

Balancing Sugar Preferences

For some customers, especially the elderly, adapting to beverages with less sugar can be challenging.

They believe that sugar-free beverages lack the enjoyable sweetness they’re accustomed to.

One retiree, 62-year-old Ms Tan Siew Choo, shared with Shin Min Daily News that coffee and tea without sugar taste too bitter for her.

She emphasised the importance of enjoying what you’re drinking and confessed that she still prefers sugar in her beverages. However, when she doesn’t desire sweetness, she opts for plain water.

Despite these preferences, the majority of the customers interviewed expressed their support for the “Default Less Sugar” campaign.

Ms Lin Xiao Ting, a 28-year-old saleswoman, shared with Shin Min Daily News that her family has a history of diabetes. She appreciates having less sugar as the default option, believing that it can contribute to better health for more people.

A Personal Choice

Although the ‘Default Less Sugar’ initiative has not been introduced in other coffee shops and food courts, you can still specify your preferred sweetness level.

A menu listing various beverage nutrition grades is available as a reference. Beverages with a ‘Nutri-Grade’ of ‘A’ include freshly brewed Kopi-O, Teh-O, Chinese tea, and canned drinks with healthier choice labels.