Sweeteners in Healthier Choice Products


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Why Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) Products Contain Sweeteners?

One goal of the Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) programme is to make healthier options more widely available.

This includes allowing the use of permitted intense sweeteners approved by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) instead of sugar.

These options help people who are used to sweet drinks and find it hard to completely avoid them or make drastic changes to their diet.

Sweeteners also do not add many calories to the product.

Are Approved Sweeteners Safe?

Approved sweeteners in HCS products are considered safe when used in moderation and within the recommended daily limits.

Here’s what you should know:

  • Sweeteners used in HCS products are approved by the SFA.
  • They have a long history of use and are considered Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS).
  • They have been through thorough testing with strict limits set for use.
  • Research shows no conclusive evidence linking these sweeteners to side effects like headaches, stomach issues, diarrhoea or increased appetite when used within safe limits.

Examples of Approved Sweeteners

Sweeteners approved by SFA include:

  • Aspartame
  • Acesulfame-K
  • Sucralose
  • Steviol glycosides (commonly called stevia)
  • Saccharin
  • Cyclamates
  • Neotame

Tip: Learn more about sweeteners in this Healthhub article.

What is Free Sugar?

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says that free sugar includes:

  • Sugar that is added to food or drinks.
  • Sugar that is naturally in juice, honey, or syrup.

It does not include sugars like lactose or galactose found naturally in milk.