Food legislation in Singapore

1. 29 May 2009, Friday
by
May Wee Sui Mei
Tan Siew Lee
Matthew Zhao

2. Points of Discussion:
1. Assessment of Labels
2. Verification of Claims
3. Functions of Additives
4. Comparison with Foreign Legislations

3. “The following basic
information in English are
required to be declared on
food labels:”
Name or
Description of
Food
List of
Ingredients
Net
Quantity
Name & Address of
Manufacturer and
Importer
Country of
Origin of Food
Date
Marking

5. Name or
Description of
Food
List of
Ingredients
Net
Quantity
Name & Address of
Manufacturer and
Importer
Country of
Origin of Food
Date
Marking
Name of Food
Go!
Description of Food
Nutritious Food Drink
with Malt
Net Quantity
500 mL
Name & Address
of Manufacturer
& Importer
Manufactured by:
F&N Foods Pte Ltd
214 Pandan Loop S(128405)
Imported by:
F&N Dairies (M) Sdn Bhd
70 Jalan Universiti
46700 Petaling Jaya
Selango, Malaysia
Country of Origin of Food
PRODUCT OF SINGAPORE
Date Marking
Use By: 15 Jun 09
3 mm
List of Ingredients
Fresh milk
Milk Solids
Fructose
Malt Extract
Cocoa
Anhydrous Milk Fat
Permitted Stabiliser &
Emulsifier
(of plant origin)
Calcium Carbonate
Trimagnesium Phosphate
Ferric Pyrophosphate
Nicotinamide
Vitamin A
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
Riboflavin
Thiamine Hydrochloride
Vitamin D3
Permitted Flavouring
Trimagnesium
Phosphate
Nutrition Information
Panel?
Nutrition
Information Panel

6. Class of Additive Additive Used Main Functions
Emulsifiers and
stabilisers
Permitted stabiliser and
emulsifier (of plant origin)
To aid in formation or
maintaining the uniform
dispersion of 2 or more
immiscible substances
Nutrient
Supplement
Calcium carbonate
Trimagnesium phosphate*
Ferric Pyrophosphate
Nicotinamide
Vitamin A
Pyridoxine Hydrochloride
Riboflavin
Thiamine Hydrochloride
Vitamin D3
To improve or enrich the
nutrition content of the
food
Flavouring Agent Permitted Flavouring
To impart taste and/or
odour to food
Under the Sale of Food Act First Schedule Regulation 5(4)b,
‘Permitted Use of General Terms in the Declaration of
Ingredients’, generic terms i.e. ‘Permitted Stabiliser and Emulsifier’
and ‘Permitted Flavouring’ are allowed

7. 1.To provide for nutritional needs
of the population
2.To meet the amounts required for
the respective nutrients to
validate nutritional content claims

8. Nutrient (mg)
Unfortified Milk
(per 200 ml)
Min. Amount Required
to Validate Claim
(per 200 ml)
Claim Type
Calcium (mg) 244 400 High in
Magnesium (mg) 22 66.7 Contains
Iron (mg) 0.06 5 Fortified with
Vitamin B3 0.4 8 Fortified with
Vitamin A ( g) 62 125 Contains
Vitamin B6 (mg) 0.12 1.0 Fortified with
Vitamin B2 (mg) 0.48 0.75 Fortified with
Vitamin B1 (mg) 0.06 0.5 Fortified with
Vitamin D3 ( g) Trace 0.42 Contains

9. • Adsorbed on the milk fat globule surface to
prevent aggregation and therefore separation
• To provide a homogenous milk drink
• To suspend the cocoa powder
• To maintain a homogenous dispersion of milk
and other ingredients

10. • Imparts a rich taste & impression of creaminess
Suitable Flavouring:
Divanillin
Any wholesome substance that when added or applied to
food is capable of imparting taste or odour, or both, to a food.
• Ensure that the sensory profile is consistent
• Fuller mouthfeel

11. Claims
Health Claims
Nutrition Claims
Healthier Choice
Symbol
Nutrient
Function Claim
Nutrient Content
Claim
Nutrient-specific diet
related health claims

12. 1. Claim on Vitamins and Minerals
 Fortified with Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6
and Iron (at least 50% of DA with
reference to reference quantity)
 High Calcium
 Contains Vitamins A, D and Magnesium
Claim Definition
Fortified with / High 200 ml contains at least 50% of daily allowance
Contains 200 ml contains at least 1/6 of daily allowance

13. 2. Nutrient Content Claims
3. Healthier Choice Symbol
 Low Fat
 Trans Fat Free
 Source of Energy

15. Sale of Food Act

16. Claim
Amount in
Product
(per 100g)
Guidelines
(per 100g)
Claim Met
Low Fat 1.5g <=3g
Trans Fat
Free
0.03g <0.5g
Source of
Energy
140kJ >100kJ
Nutrient Content Claims

17. Contains
Amount in Product
(per 250ml)
Guidelines
(per 250ml)
Claim Met
Vitamin A 158 mcg 156 mcg
Vitamin D 0.52 mcg 0.52 mcg
Magnesium 65mg 50 mg
Fortified With
Amount in Product
(per 250ml)
Guidelines
(per 250ml)
Claim Met
Vit B1 0.8mg 0.6mg
Vit B2 1mg 0.94mg
Vit B3 10mg 10mg
Vit B6 1.3mg 1.25mg
Iron 6.3mg 6.25mg
High Calcium 450mg 500/312.5mg ?
Claims on
Vitamins and
Minerals

18. Healthier Choice Symbol
Component
Amount in
Product
Guidelines*
Healthier
Choice?
Fat
(g/100g)
1.5 2
YES!
Total Sugar
(g/100g)
6.2 8
Sodium
(mg/100g)
32 120
Calcium
(mg/100ml)
180 130
*Based on HCS Nutritional Guidelines, Miscellaneous Foods, for Cereal, Malted or
Chocolate Drink

20. • Regulated by the Thai Food and Drug
Administration (Thai FDA)
• Thai FDA generally uses Codex and U.S. FDA
standards as guidelines for nutritional claims
• Expressed in Thai with or without foreign
language unless omitted by FDA

21.  Name of food
 Food serial number
 Name and address of manufacturer
 Net content of food (metric units)
 Essential ingredients
 Declaration of any type of addictives used
 Date, month and year of manufacture
 Labels with
statements, pictures, photographs, signs, trademarks, no
t giving misleading or exaggerating implications about
the products or explicitly or implicitly advertise other
products
 Useful instructions
Information Required on Food Label

22. Singapore Thailand
Total Energy
Total Energy
Energy from Fat
Protein Protein
Total Fat
 Saturated Fat
 Trans Fat
Total Fat
 Saturated Fat
Total Carbohydrates Total Carbohydrates
Cholesterol Cholesterol
Dietary Fibre Dietary Fibre
Sodium Sodium
Calcium Calcium
Iron Iron
Magnesium Sugar
Vitamins*
 A
 B1, B2, B3, B6
 D
Vitamins*
 A
 B1, B2
* Represents the differences between Singapore and Thailand requisite nutrition information

23. Extracted from FDA, Ministry of Public Health, 2003
Formatof
NutritionalLabel
* Percent of Thai Recommended Dairy Intakes for population over 6 years of age are based on 2,000 Kcal diet.

24.  In Singapore, the food label provides sufficient
information to the consumers
 Food additives are added to improve product
quality
 All the claims made meet the requirements
except for calcium content
 Variation between Singapore and Thailand’s
(export destination) labeling requirements