Assessment of artificial and natural sweeteners present in packaged non-alcoholic beverages (NABs) sold on the Singapore market

BMC Public Health

Xenia Cleanthous¹  Kimberley Anastasiou¹  Paige G. Brooker¹  Theresa Pham²  Rebecca Tan³  Sharon Chew³  Benjamin P. C. Smith⁴ 

[1] Health & Biosecurity, The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, 2601, Canberra, ACT, Australia;National Heart Foundation Australia, 3008, Docklands, VIC, Australia;Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation & Innovations in Food & Chemical Safety Programme, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 138671, Singapore, Singapore;Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation & Innovations in Food & Chemical Safety Programme, Agency for Science, Technology and Research, 138671, Singapore, Singapore;Future Ready Food Safety Hub, C/O School of Chemical & Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technical University, 637459, Singapore, Singapore;

关键词: Market survey;    Non-alcoholic beverages;    Singapore;    Sugar;    Sugar substitutes;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-021-11924-0

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundNew Nutri-Grade labelling, aimed at reducing Singaporeans’ sugar consumption will be implemented for all pre-packaged non-alcoholic beverages (NABs) sold in retail outlets from end 2021 onwards. It is expected such labelling will have a major impact on sugar content of beverages, as well as the replacement of sugar with non-caloric alternatives.MethodsThis study used product label data obtained from in-store surveys to investigate sugar and sweetener composition of NABs present on the Singapore market. Using this data we calculated products prospective Nutri-Grade classification in order to compare the current market composition with relation to sugar and/or sweetener use.ResultsOver half of the NABs on market were sweetened with sugar (59%) and were associated with less healthy Nutri-Grades of ‘C’ and ‘D’. The use of natural sweeteners; Stevia and Monk fruit, remains low (6%).ConclusionWith continuous efforts by the government in promoting public health nutrition, it is expected that there will be a greater usage of sugar substitutes among NABs in response to the upcoming implementation of Nutri-Grade and ever-fluctuating consumers’ demands. The data collected in this study provide a point estimate (July–September 2020) on market composition and use of both sugar and artificial sweeteners in beverages prior to integration of the mandatory labelling requirements.

【 授权许可】

CC BY