Understanding Food & Nutrition Labels Before Purchase

Understanding Food & Nutrition Labels Before Purchase | Singapore Government Singapore Food Agency

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Nutrition Information Panel

Provides information on:

energy value, amounts of protein, carbohydrate, fat; and
amounts of any other nutrients mentioned in a nutrition claim or health claim

Mandatory for products with nutrition claim, edible fats/oils, and special purpose food (e.g. infant formula).

Net quantity (A mandatory information for all food)

Provides the actual quantity of food present in the package.

Name of the food (A mandatory information for all food)

Common name or description to indicate the true nature of the food.

Statement of Ingredients (A mandatory information for all food)

Lists all the ingredients and additives used to manufacture the food product in descending order by weight, including ingredients known to cause hypersensitivity

Expiry Date Marking

Marks the date after which the food product may lose its normal quality and nature, and should not be sold. Mandatory for food which are:

perishable or short shelf-life products (e.g. pasteurised milk),
products whose quality may deteriorate over time (e.g. cooking oil),
products that are susceptible to contamination, such as insect infestation, after prolonged storage (e.g. breakfast cereals),
infant food.

Pictorial Illustrations

Pictorial illustrations used in food labels should be truthful and accurate representations of the product contents. Pictorial illustrations that are meant to share with consumers on how the food can be served, must be accompanied by suitable words like "Recipe" or "Serving Suggestions" in letters 1.5mm in height.

Food Containing Royal Jelly

A statement in words like "WARNING - THIS PRODUCT MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ASTHMA AND ALLERGY SUFFERERS" is required on the labels of royal jelly and food containing royal jelly.

Low Fat

The requirements for nutrition claim like "low fat" are made to cater for the local dietary intake pattern. Food products which carry this claim shall comply with the requirement as stated under our national nutrient claims guidelines found in the "Handbook on Nutrition Labelling" (published by Singapore's Health Promotion Board), if they are meant for sale in Singapore.

To claim for low fat, it is necessary that the product shall contain less than 3g fat per 100g of the product.

Local Business Entity (A mandatory information for all food)

name and address of the local manufacturer, packer or vendor for locally manufactured food, or
name and address of the local importer, distributor or agent for imported food

Halal Logo

The use of the "Halal" logo in Singapore is under the purview of the Islamic Centre of Singapore (Majlis Ugama Islam Singapore, MUIS). Please visit www.muis.gov.sg for more information on the use of the "Halal" logo on food product.

Country of origin (A mandatory information for all food)

States the last processing place of the food.

Healthier Choice Symbol

The "Healthier Choice Symbol" is a symbol administered by the Singapore Health Promotion Board (HPB). Please visit the HPB website for information on the application to use this symbol for food product.

Food Containing Aspartame

Food products containing aspartame are required to carry a caution statement "PHENYLKETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE" to indicate the presence of phenylalanine.

Statement of Ingredients

Statement of Ingredients (mandatory for all prepacked food)

Every prepacked food must include a complete list of all ingredients on its label.

The statement of ingredients must include all ingredients, including additives and ingredients known to cause hypersensitivity. They should be listed in descending order, based on the weight of ingredients used in the food product.

This statement provides crucial information especially for those with allergies or food intolerances. Understanding the ingredients used in the food product can help you avoid ingredients that might cause allergic reactions.

To protect consumers with food allergies in line with international food labelling standards, the food regulations require the statement of ingredients on labels of prepacked food to clearly indicate the following ingredients known to cause hypersensitivity in individuals:

No.	Group	Ingredients
(i)	Cereals containing gluten	Wheat, rye, barley, oats, spelt, their hybridised strains, and their products.
(ii)	Crustacean and crustacean products	Crayfish, prawns, shrimps, lobsters, crabs, and their products.
(iii)	Eggs and egg products	Eggs from laying hens, ducks, turkeys, quails, geese, gulls, guinea fowls, and their products.
(iv)	Fish and fish products	Marine or freshwater animals, including fish, molluscs (such as oysters, clams, and scallops), and their products.
(v)	Peanuts, soybeans and their products	Peanuts, which may be declared using ‘groundnuts’ or similar terms, and soybeans, which may be declared using terms such as ‘soya’ or ‘soy’.
(vi)	Milk and milk products (including lactose)	Milk from cows, buffaloes, goats, and their products.
(vii)	Tree nuts and nut products	Almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashew nuts, pecan nuts, Brazil nuts, pistachio nuts, macadamia nuts, and their products.
(viii)	Sulphites in concentrates of 10mg/kg or more	Sulphites directly added and/or carried over from food ingredients at a total concentration of 10mg/kg or more (calculated in terms of total sulphur dioxide).

Allergens are sometimes declared on food labels through the use of phrases like ‘contains peanuts’, ‘may contain peanuts’, or ‘made in a facility that processes peanuts’, to caution the possibility that the food product may contain allergenic ingredients. You can approach the food business stated on the label if you require more information.

Net Quantity

Net Quantity (mandatory for all prepacked food)

The labels on prepacked food must clearly show the net quantity to enable consumers to make informed decisions.

For solid food, this is the weight of the food without any packaging. For example, the net weight for milk powder in tins is the weight of just the milk powder and does not include the weight of the tin.

In the case of frozen seafood that has been glazed with ice, the net weight must exclude the weight of the ice glazing.

Net quantity values

Generally, the net quantity should reflect a specific number and not a range. This helps consumers to know exactly how much they are getting in each package.

For liquid food, the net quantity is measured in millilitres (mL) or litres (L). For solid foods, it is measured in grams (g) or kilograms (kg). For semi-solid foods like yoghurt, the net quantity can be expressed either by weight or volume.

Product	Measurement method	Units of measure
Liquid foods	By volume	millilitres (mL) or litres (L)
Solid foods	By weight	grams (g) or kilograms (kg)
Semi-solid or viscous foods (e.g. tomato paste and yoghurt)	By volume or by weight	millilitres (mL) or litres (L); grams (g) or kilograms (kg)

Product

Measurement method

Units of measure

Liquid foods

By volume

millilitres (mL) or litres (L)

Solid foods

By weight

grams (g) or kilograms (kg)

Semi-solid or viscous foods (e.g. tomato paste and yoghurt)

By volume or by weight

millilitres (mL) or litres (L); grams (g) or kilograms (kg)

Declaration of drained weight 

When buying solid food packed in a liquid, like canned tuna or vegetables, the label should clearly show both the net weight and the drained weight.

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Products that require indication of the drained weight on the label

Products within a liquid packing medium that is drained away prior to consumption of the product.

Products include canned seafood in brine e.g. abalone, pacific clams, tuna, crabmeat, and canned vegetables in brine such as button mushrooms, whole corn kernels, chickpeas, and gingko nuts in water.
Preserved/pickled products in a liquid medium with salt, vinegar or sugar.

Products include pickled green chillis, cucumbers, onions, capers, mustard greens, preserved ginger, and salted plums.
Canned fruit and vegetables packed in juices or sugar syrups.

Products include canned fruits in juice and syrup.

Products that do not require indication of drained weight

Beverage products that contain solid bits.

Products include grass jelly drink, fruit juice with aloe vera bits, juice drink with nata de coco, bird’s nest flavoured drink with jelly, and bottled hashima dessert.
Products containing solid food in gravy, paste, or sauce that is meant to be consumed as a dish.

Products include scallops in XO sauce, abalone in braised sauce, peanut soup, curry chicken, sardines and baked beans in tomato sauce, fried gluten in soy sauce, braised peanuts and vegetarian mock meat in soy sauce, kimchi, and sauerkraut.
Products containing solid food in oil.

Products include canned seafood such as tuna, anchovies in vegetable oil, sundried tomatoes in oil, and fermented bean curd.
Products containing solid food with a small amount of water because the liquid has separated out (due to a process known as syneresis).

Products include bean curd and jelly.

Nutrition and Health Claims

(With effect from 2 May 2024, this comes under the Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Board)

All nutrition and health claims on food products must be truthful and verifiable based on scientific evidence.

Nutrition claims are voluntary

A nutrition claim is voluntary and suggests or implies that a food has nutritional value. Examples include claims like ‘High in fibre’, ‘Low in fat’, ‘Cholesterol free’, and ‘Sugar-free’.

Guidelines for nutritional claims

To sell food products with nutritional claims in Singapore, businesses must comply with the guidelines found in the ‘Handbook on Nutrition Labelling’ published by the Health Promotion Board.

For example, products that claim to be ‘low fat’ must contain less than 3g of fat per 100g.

Examples of health claims

A health claim is a claim that states, suggests, or implies that there is a connection between consuming the product and a health benefit.

Here are some examples of health claims:

Nutrient function claims: These claims describe how a nutrient contributes to your body’s growth, development, or functions. An example is: ‘Calcium helps to build strong bones and teeth’.
Reduction of disease risk claims: These claim that eating certain foods can lower your chances of developing specific diseases or health conditions as part of a healthy diet. An example is ‘A healthy diet rich in fibre-containing foods such as wholegrains, and fruits and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancers.’
Other function claims: These describe the health benefits of various food components. An example is: ‘Probiotics help in digestion’.

Use food labels wisely

Claims and nutrition information panels on food labels are great tools for helping you make informed food choices. Here is how you can use them wisely:

Be mindful that no single food can provide all the nutrients you need or prevent or cure a disease, condition, or allergy.
Be cautious of exaggerated, over-the-top claims. If a product promises quick health fixes, be wary.
Always consult your doctor before consuming any food for its health benefits if you have a pre-existing medical condition.

Expiry Dates

Labels reflecting ‘Use by’, ‘Expiry date’, ‘Best before’, or ‘Sell by’ are important indications of when the food might start to lose its freshness and quality.

Products should not be sold after the stated expiry date. Do check the expiry date of the food product to make sure you are getting the best quality.

‘Packing date’ for raw meat and fish 

Labels for fresh and chilled raw meat and fish will indicate a packing date instead of an expiry date. Do examine their freshness at the store by looking for any bad smells or unusual colours to ensure that the meat or fish remains good for consumption.

Foods that must indicate expiry dates 

It is mandatory for certain food products to have expiry dates on the labels. These include:

perishables or short shelf-life products (e.g. pasteurised milk, dairy products, and chilled food products);
products whose quality may deteriorate over time (e.g. cooking oil and juice drinks);
products that are susceptible to contamination when stored for too long (e.g. breakfast cereals and flour can become infested with insects); and
infant food.

It is the responsibility of the food business operator (manufacturer, packer, or vendor) to ensure the expiry date is clearly stated on such products.

It is mandatory for expiry dates to be stated for the following 19 categories of food.

S/N	Category of Food
1	Cream, reduced cream, light cream, whipped cream and sour cream excluding sterilised canned cream.
2	Cultured milk and cultured milk drink.
3	Pasteurised milk and pasteurised milk drink.
4	Yoghurt, low-fat yoghurt, fat-reduced yoghurt, non-fat yoghurt, and yoghurt products.
5	Pasteurised fruit juice and pasteurised fruit juice drink.
6	Pasteurised vegetable juice and pasteurised vegetable juice drink.
7	Tofu, ‘tauhu’ or ‘doufu’, a soya beancurd product made of soya beans, water, and a coagulant, including ‘egg tofu’, ‘taukua’ or ‘dougan’, and the soft soya beancurd desert known as ‘tauhui’, ‘tofa’ or ‘douhua’, but excluding the oil fried tofu in the form of a pouch known as ‘taupok’, and the dried beancurd stick.
8	Food which is stored or required to be stored at a chilling temperature to maintain or prolong its durable life, including ready-to-eat minimally processed fruits and vegetables such as cut fruits and vegetables but excluding all other forms of raw fruits and vegetables.
9	Vitaminised fruit juice and vitaminised fruit juice drink.
10	Vitaminised vegetable juice and vitaminised vegetable juice drink.
11	Liquid milk and liquid milk products excluding condensed milk, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and canned sterilised milk and milk products.
12	Flour
13	Salad dressing
14	Mayonnaise
15	Raisins and sultanas
16	Chocolate, milk chocolate and chocolate confectionery in which the characteristic ingredient is chocolate or cocoa, with or without the addition of fruits and nuts.
17	Breakfast cereal with or without fruits and nuts, except cereal in cans.
18	Infant Food
19	Edible cooking oils

Storage instructions

Food products that must be stored under certain conditions to maintain its freshness and remain safe for consumption until the expiry date must have storage instructions indicated on the label.

Example of storage instructions include 'Refrigerate after opening'. 'Keep refrigerated', and 'Consume within 3 days of opening'.

Safety goes beyond expiry 

Food can go bad even before the expiry date if it is not stored correctly.

The expiry date is no longer valid once you open the food packaging. Always look for signs of spoilage, such as an unusual odour or swollen packaging, before buying and consuming the food product.

Remember, it is against the law to sell food past its expiry date, as the product might no longer meet the quality and safety standards promised by the manufacturer.

Understanding Food & Nutrition Labels Before Purchase

Name of the food

Name of the food (mandatory for all prepacked food)

Singapore Food Agency

Labels are mandatory for all prepacked food

Labels ensure food is safe for consumption

Legibility matters

Decoding food labels

Nutrition Information Panel

Net quantity (A mandatory information for all food)

Name of the food (A mandatory information for all food)

Statement of Ingredients (A mandatory information for all food)

Expiry Date Marking

Pictorial Illustrations

Food Containing Royal Jelly

Low Fat

Local Business Entity (A mandatory information for all food)

Halal Logo

Country of origin (A mandatory information for all food)

Healthier Choice Symbol

Food Containing Aspartame

Statement of Ingredients

Statement of Ingredients (mandatory for all prepacked food)

Net Quantity

Net Quantity (mandatory for all prepacked food)

Net quantity values

Declaration of drained weight

Details of Local Business

Details of Local Business (mandatory for all prepacked food)

Imported Food Products

Locally Manufactured Products

Country of Origin

Country of Origin

‘Made in Singapore’ or ‘Product of Singapore’

‘Packed in Singapore’

Origin of individual ingredients

Warnings

Warnings

Aspartame Warning

Royal Jelly Warning

Nutrition Information Panel

Nutrition Information Panel

Details that are mandatory

Serving sizes

Comparing nutritional content

Nutrition and Health Claims

Nutrition and Health Claims

Nutrition claims are voluntary

Guidelines for nutritional claims

Examples of health claims

Use food labels wisely

Expiry Dates

Expiry Dates

‘Packing date’ for raw meat and fish

Foods that must indicate expiry dates

Storage instructions

Pictorial Illustrations

Pictorial Illustrations

Logos and Barcodes

Logos and Barcodes

Halal Logo

Healthier Choice Symbol

Last Updated 22 May 2026

Labels are mandatory for all prepacked food 

Decoding food labels 

Declaration of drained weight 

Imported Food Products  

Locally Manufactured Products  

‘Made in Singapore’ or ‘Product of Singapore’  

‘Packed in Singapore’  

Origin of individual ingredients  

Aspartame Warning  

Royal Jelly Warning  

Details that are mandatory  

Serving sizes  

Comparing nutritional content 

‘Packing date’ for raw meat and fish 

Foods that must indicate expiry dates 

Halal Logo 

Healthier Choice Symbol  