Calibration of Nutri-Grade System and Plans to Educate Public

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Health (a) whether nutritionists were consulted in the calibration of the current Nutri-Grade system; (b) whether the Ministry will consider expanding the current Nutri-Grade system beyond sugar and fat content to provide a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of the nutritional value of drinks for the different age groups; and (c) how does the Ministry plan to educate the public on the limitations of the current Nutri-Grade system.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) had consulted local experts from different disciplines, including nutrition, food science, behavioural science and public health epidemiology, to ensure that the Nutri-Grade grading system is scientifically robust and designed to spur industry reformulation and nudge consumer behavioural change. The Nutri-Grade grading system focuses on sugar and saturated fat, as they are the current key nutrients of concern in beverages.

The Health Promotion Board (HPB) rolled out a public education campaign in December 2022, to increase awareness of the Nutri-Grade mark, including advisories that beverages graded C or D may still be recommended for individuals with specific dietary needs, such as full cream milk for children aged one to two years old; and 100% juice for seniors with difficulty in chewing whole fruit.

MOH and HPB will continue to monitor the implementation of the Nutri-Grade grading system and the impact to the public and review it, as appropriate.