By the WahLiao desk · Last verified 28 September 2026

To read a Singapore food label quickly, check three things: the Healthier Choice Symbol, which marks products lower in sugar, sodium or saturated fat than similar products in the same category; the first few ingredients, because ingredients are listed from most to least by weight; and the per-100g column of the nutrition panel, which is the only fair way to compare two packs. If anyone in your household has an allergy, read the allergen declaration too; Singapore requires the major allergens to be declared.

The Healthier Choice Symbol is a comparison, not a verdict. A biscuit that is lower in sugar than other biscuits is still a biscuit. The symbol helps you choose within a shelf; it does not tell you whether to buy from that shelf at all.

Food labels: quick facts

Healthier Choice Symbol	Run by the Health Promotion Board; marks products lower in fat, saturated fat, sugar or sodium, or higher in wholegrains or calcium, than similar products
Comparative claims	A “lower in” claim must say what it is compared with, for example “25% lower in sugar compared with regular” products
Ingredients	Listed in descending order by weight
Allergens that must be declared	Cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, soybeans, tree nuts, and sulphites at 10mg/kg or more
Drinks	Pre-packed drinks also carry a Nutri-Grade mark from A to D
Sodium	About 90 per cent of Singaporeans exceed the recommended intake; the guide is under 2,000mg a day

The WahLiao Verdict

Cost	Thirty seconds per new product, once.
What you get	A reliable way to compare two packs, spot hidden sugar and salt, and protect anyone with an allergy.
The alternative	Trusting the front of the pack, which is written by the marketing department.
Worth it for	Parents, anyone watching sugar or salt, and every household with a food allergy.
Skip it if	You are buying a product you have already checked. Labels rarely change without a new pack design.
Last verified	28 September 2026, against the Health Promotion Board’s Healthier Choice Symbol guidelines and nutrition labelling handbook.

What does the Healthier Choice Symbol mean?

The Healthier Choice Symbol, or HCS, is the Health Promotion Board’s logo for products that meet its nutrient guidelines. A product earns it by being lower in fat, saturated fat, sugar or sodium than comparable products in the same food category, or higher in wholegrains, dietary fibre or calcium. The symbol carries a tagline saying which: “lower in sugar”, “lower in sodium”, “higher in calcium” and so on.

Two rules make it more honest than it first appears. First, a comparative claim must carry a statement explaining the comparison, such as “25% lower in sugar compared with regular” products in that category. Second, packs and advertising carrying the symbol must also carry the message “Eat All Foods in Moderation”. Both are reminders that the symbol ranks products against their neighbours, not against a healthy diet. The guidelines are revised from time to time; the current edition dates from July 2025.

How to read the ingredients list

Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight. If sugar, oil or salt appears in the first three, it is a large part of what you are buying. Watch for sugar under other names, such as glucose syrup, fructose, maltose or dextrose; several of them spread through a list can add up to a lot of sugar even when none appears first.

How to read the nutrition information panel

• Use the per-100g or per-100ml column to compare products. Serving sizes differ between brands, so the per-serving column can make one pack look better simply because its serving is smaller.
• Use the per-serving column to judge what you will actually eat, then check whether you really eat one serving.
• Look at sodium. The Health Promotion Board notes that about 90 per cent of Singaporeans take in more than the recommended amount, and the guide is to stay under 2,000mg a day. Sauces, instant noodles and processed meats are the usual sources.
• Look at sugar and saturated fat if those matter to your household.

Which allergens must be declared in Singapore?

Pre-packed food sold in Singapore must declare ingredients known to cause hypersensitivity. These are cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, soybeans, tree nuts such as cashews, and sulphites at concentrations of 10mg/kg or more. An allergen that is present but not declared is a common reason for a product recall; our guide to food recalls in Singapore explains how to check one.

What else must a Singapore food label show?

Pre-packed food must carry, in English, the name of the food, the list of ingredients, the net quantity, the name and address of the manufacturer or importer, and the country of origin. Certain foods, including chilled foods, must also carry a date mark; our guide to best before and use by dates explains what those mean here.

The 30-second label check

1. Look for the Healthier Choice Symbol and read its tagline.
2. Read the first three ingredients.
3. Compare sugar and sodium per 100g against the pack beside it.
4. Check the allergen declaration if it matters to your household.
5. For drinks, check the Nutri-Grade mark as well.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Healthier Choice Symbol mean?

It means the product meets the Health Promotion Board’s guidelines for being lower in fat, saturated fat, sugar or sodium, or higher in wholegrains, fibre or calcium, compared with similar products in the same category.

Is a product with the Healthier Choice Symbol healthy?

It is healthier than similar products in its category. That does not make every product with the symbol a healthy choice in itself; packs carrying it must also say “Eat All Foods in Moderation”.

Why are ingredients listed in a particular order?

Ingredients are listed in descending order by weight, so the first ingredient is the largest part of the product.

Which allergens must be labelled in Singapore?

Cereals containing gluten, crustaceans, eggs, fish, milk, peanuts, soybeans, tree nuts, and sulphites at 10mg/kg or more.

Should I compare per serving or per 100g?

Per 100g or per 100ml, because serving sizes differ between brands.

Read next

This page belongs to How Supermarket Works, our series on the grocery network behind the shelf. Continue with Nutri-Grade explained and supermarket house brands.

Sources checked 28 September 2026: Health Promotion Board, Healthier Choice Symbol Nutrient Guidelines (July 2025 edition); HPB Handbook on Nutrition Labelling; ActiveSG Circle, reading food labels; Singapore Food Regulations on labelling and allergen declaration. This page explains labels; it is not dietary or medical advice. Last updated 28 September 2026.