Singapore’s sugar consumption falls, but sodium, calorie intakes have gone up, new survey shows

Singapore's sugar consumption has decreased, while sodium and calorie intakes have risen, according to a new survey by the Ministry of Health and the Health Promotion Board. The survey found that daily sugar intake dropped from 60g in 2018 to 48g in 2025, the equivalent of consuming about 2½ teaspoons less sugar daily. The proportion of respondents with sugar consumption within the recommended limit rose from 61% in 2019 to 79% in 2025.

This decline is attributed to reduced sugar-sweetened drink consumption, driven by industry reformulation and consumers opting for lower-sugar options. Mandatory Nutri-Grade labels, introduced to grade drinks based on sugar and saturated fat content, have contributed to decreasing median sugar levels in beverages. However, calorie and sodium intakes have increased.

Mean calorie consumption rose from 2,360kcal in 2019 to 2,460kcal in 2025, potentially leading to a 5kg weight gain annually. Meanwhile, average sodium intake increased from 3,480mg in 2019 to 4,000mg in 2025, twice the recommended daily limit. Over 95% of Singaporeans exceeded the daily sodium limit. Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung emphasized the need for a healthier diet and noted that more people are undergoing screenings for chronic diseases, including colorectal and breast cancer.

He also highlighted that 61% of those eligible have signed up for the preventive health initiative, Healthier SG. Nonetheless, Ong stressed the necessity of curbing sodium intake, especially due to the rise in frequent dining out, as saltier dishes contribute to the growing sodium consumption.