Understanding Singapore's Nutri-Grade Rating for Beverages

In recent years, a new wave of health-conscious consumers has emerged across Asia, and Singapore is leading the charge. With rising rates of diabetes and obesity, the Singapore government has taken bold steps to nudge consumers and companies alike toward healthier habits.

Enter the Nutri-Grade label, a front-of-pack nutritional rating system designed to help consumers make better-informed decisions, especially when it comes to pre-packaged drinks, which are among the top sources of added sugar in the diet.

But what does this grading system really mean? How does it affect what’s on the shelves? And more importantly, what makes some drinks stand out as truly clean, natural choices?

At Wild Orchard, we’re proud to be part of the next generation of beverages, naturally Nutri-Grade A, without added sugar, sweeteners, or artificial shortcuts. Let’s break down what Nutri-Grade is all about, why it matters, and how our drinks were designed to be ahead of the curve.

What Is the Nutri-Grade System?

Launched in December 2022, Singapore’s Nutri-Grade labelling scheme is a mandatory system that applies to pre-packaged non-alcoholic beverages sold in the country. Its purpose is simple, to promote transparency and encourage healthier consumption by grading drinks based on their sugar and saturated fat content per 100ml.

Drinks are classified into four categories:

• 🟩 Grade A (Dark Green), Lowest in sugar and saturated fat
• 🟨 Grade B (Light Green), Lower sugar and fat, but not the lowest
• 🟧 Grade C (Amber), Higher sugar or fat, mandatory label
• 🟥 Grade D (Red), Highest sugar and saturated fat, mandatory label and advertising restrictions

The lower the grade, the more regulations apply. C and D grade drinks must display the Nutri-Grade label prominently, and Grade D products are banned from advertising altogether.

This system ensures that consumers aren’t left in the dark when choosing drinks. Whether it's a soda, fruit juice, milk drink, energy drink, or sparkling water, Nutri-Grade is now a fixture on supermarket shelves, and it’s here to stay.

Why Singapore Introduced Nutri-Grade

Singapore has long been proactive when it comes to public health. But when it comes to sugar, the statistics are alarming:

• 1 in 3 Singaporeans is at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
• Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are a key contributor to added sugar intake.
• Many popular drinks still contain upwards of 10g of sugar per 100ml, more than twice the limit for a Grade A rating.

The Nutri-Grade label was introduced to shift both consumer behavior and industry practices. It’s part of the government’s broader “War on Diabetes,” aimed at:

• Empowering consumers to make healthier choices at a glance
• Encouraging brands to reformulate their drinks
• Reducing Singapore’s national sugar consumption

This isn’t Singapore’s first health label. The Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) has existed for years. But where HCS is voluntary, Nutri-Grade is mandatory, more direct, and focused on sugar and fat specifically.

How Nutri-Grade Is Calculated

Nutri-Grade ratings are determined by the amount of sugar and saturated fat per 100ml of the drink, not by total serving size. Here's a simplified breakdown of what the grading looks like for sugar:

GradeSugar per 100mlSaturated Fat per 100mlA≤ 1g≤ 0.7gB> 1g and ≤ 5g≤ 1.2gC> 5g and ≤ 10g≤ 2.8gD> 10g> 2.8g

To qualify as Grade A, a drink must meet both criteria for sugar and saturated fat.

In addition:

• If your drink has <0.5g sugar per 100ml, you can label it as "No Sugar"
• If your drink contains no added sugar or sweeteners, you can also claim it’s "Unsweetened"
• Importantly, even natural sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit still count under this framework

For clean-label brands like ours, that’s a huge differentiator. We’re not just low in sugar, we’re free from all sweeteners, artificial or otherwise.

A New Era of Beverage Reformulation

Since Nutri-Grade’s rollout, many beverage companies have scrambled to avoid a Grade C or D rating. Reformulation is now the name of the game.

What does that usually involve?

• Reducing sugar to below 5g or 1g per 100ml
• Swapping in artificial sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose
• Using natural sweeteners like stevia or monk fruit to retain sweetness

The result, a flood of new “sugar-free”, “low-calorie”, and “zero” drinks entering the market, but many with questionable ingredient lists

While these drinks might pass the Nutri-Grade test, they often fall short when it comes to taste integrity, ingredient transparency, and clean-label credibility

Why “No Sugar” Doesn’t Always Mean Healthy

Nutri-Grade is a useful tool, but it’s not the whole story. Just because a drink is Grade A doesn’t mean it’s the healthiest choice for your body.

Here’s why:

• Many “No Sugar” drinks use chemical sweeteners to mimic the flavour of sugar
• These additives, while low-calorie, have been linked to:
  • Gut microbiome disruptions
  • Increased cravings
  • Insulin confusion
• Some sweeteners leave a lingering aftertaste or “cooling” sensation

More consumers are starting to ask, “What am I really drinking?”

Transparency isn’t just about sugar levels. It’s about knowing where the flavour is coming from, and whether it aligns with your health values.

Wild Orchard, Naturally Nutri-Grade A

At Wild Orchard, we didn’t wait for regulations to tell us what a healthy drink should be. We built our recipe from the ground up with one principle in mind,

Real ingredients, no shortcuts, full flavour

Our drinks are designed to be naturally Grade A, and not just on paper:

• ✅ No added sugar
• ✅ No sweeteners (not even natural ones)
• ✅ No artificial ingredients
• ✅ Just carbonated water and 100% fruit juice

We use a small amount of real fruit juice to give our drinks a crisp, vibrant flavour, without the need for sugar or sweeteners. These fruit juices contribute trace amounts of naturally occurring sugar, well below the Grade A threshold.

The result, sparkling water that tastes like real fruit, because it is real fruit. With no strange aftertaste, no artificial sweetness, and no sugar crash

How to Read Nutri-Grade Labels as a Consumer

If you’re shopping for healthy drinks in Singapore, here’s how to approach Nutri-Grade:

1. Check the grade, A or B are generally better
2. Look at the nutrition info per 100ml, not just per serving
3. Read the ingredients
   • If you see sweeteners like sucralose, stevia, or acesulfame-K, it may be Grade A, but not necessarily clean-label
   • If you see real juice, no additives, and low sugar, that’s a win
4. Portion control, even a low-sugar drink can add up if consumed in large quantities

With Wild Orchard, you can enjoy peace of mind. We’re Grade A by nature, not by manipulation.

The Future of Healthier Drinking in Singapore

Singapore’s Nutri-Grade system is more than a label, it’s a statement. It signals a future where:

• Consumers are more empowered and informed
• Brands are more accountable and transparent
• Wellness isn’t sacrificed for flavour, or vice versa

At Wild Orchard, we believe healthier drinks shouldn’t taste like a compromise. That’s why we’re committed to delivering sparkling water that’s light, refreshing, and made with only what matters

Because when you use real ingredients, you don’t need tricks to make a great-tasting drink.

Ready to Drink Differently?

✨ Wild Orchard is proud to be one of the few sparkling waters in Asia that delivers full fruit flavour with:

• No added sugar
• No sweeteners
• Only natural ingredients

Discover a new kind of refreshment, designed for modern lifestyles and clean-label values.

👉 Explore our flavours and taste the real fruit difference

‍