Contents in this page
What are food additives?
Food additives are chemical substances that are intentionally added to food, typically in very small amounts, to enhance its appearance, texture, flavour, or shelf life.
Examples of food additives include preservatives, emulsifiers, flavouring agents, and food colouring.
Food additives can be derived from both natural and artificially synthesised sources. They do not refer to foreign substances arising from contamination or improper handling of food.
What are the food additives allowed for use in food?
Only food additives that have been assessed by SFA are permitted for use in food products sold in Singapore. For more information on how SFA assesses and allows food additive for use in food, please refer to Food Additives – are they safe?
Food additives are allowed when:
- there is a technological justification
- they do not present health risks to consumers
Download the List of Permitted Food Additives or use the Food Additives Search tool to check if your additives are allowed.
What are the limits on food additives?
Different limits apply, depending on the additive and the type of food products. Use the Guidance Information on Requirements for Use of Food Additives to learn more about the different types of additives and the corresponding regulations that impose the limits.
Who must comply with the limits on food additives?
All food businesses offering food for sale in Singapore must comply with the regulatory limits on food additives. In addition, they must also comply with the Regulatory Limits for Contaminants in Food.
For examples of food businesses that are required to comply, please see the Overview on Food Safety Regulatory Limits.
How do I comply with the limits?
Step 1: Get a list of additives used in your products
Start by checking the food labels on the packaging. Each additive is often listed by its specific name or INS/E-number.
Food manufacturers must be aware of all the ingredients, including additives, that are used in the products that they manufacture.
You should also reach out to the supplier to obtain more detailed information about the additives used in the products.
Step 2: Check if the additives are permitted
Use the Food Additives Search tool. Simply type in the name of the additive to see if it is permitted under SFA's Food Regulations.
Alternatively, you can download the Food Additives Permitted under the Singapore Food Regulations.
Always check your additives against the list before importing or selling the food product, to ensure that the additives used in the food product is permitted.
If your food product contains an additive that is not permitted, do not import or sell it. However, you can submit an application to SFA to evaluate the use of the additive in the product that you intend to import or sell. Detailed instructions can be found in the Guidance Information on Requirement for Food Additives.
Use of additives in Kuehs
Class II chemical preservatives, such as sorbic acid and benzoic acid, should not be directly added when manufacturing the kueh.
Class II chemical preservatives can only be directly added, within the prescribed regulatory limits, to fillings and toppings in kuehs. For example, you can directly add Class II chemical preservatives to the filling of ang ku kueh or kueh dadar within the regulatory limits.
For details on the use of preservatives in kueh, download these slides:
Step 3: Use the calculation tool provided (if necessary)
If two or more Class II chemical preservatives are to be used in the food (e.g. sorbic acid or benzoic acid), use the Calculation Tool for Class II Chemical Preservatives to calculate the permitted levels that should be used.
Step 4: Ensure you comply with the labelling requirements (applies only to prepacked foods for sale in Singapore)
All ingredients and additives used in food products must be declared in list of ingredients on food labels. Your food or food product must also comply with the labelling requirements.
Where can I get a copy of the regulatory limits?
The food safety regulatory limits can be found in SFA's Legislation.
For more information
You can contact us via the SFA Online Feedback Form.
