Recently, the Ministry of Health announced new measures to reduce sugar consumption in Singapore: mandatory display of graded nutrition labels for high-sugar beverages, and a total advertising ban on drinks that receive the worst grade. These measures aim to curb demand, promote healthy lifestyles and push manufacturers to offer healthier options.
Dean, Professor Teo Yik Ying said rising consumption in Asia of food and drinks high in sugar is a “reflection of rapidly modernised societies”. Most people now work in offices, take no or little physical exercise, do not cook, and have opted for the convenience of processed meals or eating in fast-food outlets.
People living in these societies “demand choice and the opportunity for quick gratification, which many of these high-sugar products provide”, he said, citing the popularity of coffee shop chains and bubble tea shops in Asia — both of which serve food and drinks with a high sugar content.
Prof Teo added, “We see the advertising ban as a way to remove all forms of exposure to high-sugar products from the public, especially children. At the same time, we anticipate that the ban will encourage manufacturers to reformulate. By applying this ban to only the most unhealthy products, the industry is given a strong incentive to rethink. The message here is, ‘Make your products healthier, and we allow you to advertise’.”
Dr Jacqueline Lo Ying-Ru, head of mission and the World Health Organization’s representative to Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore, noted that it is a welcome ban because it grapples with the rise in childhood obesity.
She added that such targeted interventions are necessary, if only to promote a healthier lifestyle at an early age.
“It’s very important to protect children from unhealthy eating,” said Dr Lo, adding that those who were raised eating unhealthy meals are likely to maintain this habit in adulthood.
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