March 23, 2023, 06:44 PM
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When we were younger, we were taught to have certain perceptions of the drinks we loved.
Take Milo and Coke, for instance.
It's clear which falls under the "good for you" category and which falls under the "bad for you" one — which was why TikTok user @almightyalicia was appalled to find out about the Nutri-Grade ratings of Coke and Milo.
Unexpected rankings
@almightyaliciaI want to live in my delusion pls🙏🏻 HPB dont expose the truth bc it HURTS 🥲♬ original sound - lish 🙆🏻♀️
On Mar. 21, the woman posted a video of the display of canned drinks in a vending machine.
The caption read, "I want to live in my delusion, please. HPB don't expose the truth because it HURTS."
The "truth" in question was that demonised Coke had a Nutri-Grade of B, while the wholesome embodiment of childhood nostalgia, Milo, was ranked two grades lower, with a Nutri-Grade of D.
Even 100plus had a higher grade of C.
Other TikTok users were equally betrayed by the rating.
Ignorance is bliss
While the can of Milo in the vending machine has a label stating that it has a Nutri-Grade of D, it appears that some Milo products have Nutri-Grade of B.
What Nutri-Grade is based on
Nutri-Grade was developed to help Singaporeans be more aware of their sugar intake, as high sugar levels can cause obesity and diabetes.
The system grades beverages according to the amount of sugar and saturated fat they contain.
Grade A indicates that a drink contains the lowest sugar and saturated fat content, as opposed to D which indicates it contains the highest amounts of both compounds.
As shown on healthhub.sg, contributed by Health Promotion Board.
Nutri-Grade's criteria of accounting for both sugar and saturated fat means that drinks perceived to be "healthier" might sometimes end up being rated on the lower end of the scale.
F&N Magnolia Fresh Milk, for instance, has a C grade.
This is because despite having zero added sugar, the drink has a high saturated fat content.
According to HPB, "Certain Nutri-Grade C and D drinks may still be required in moderation for those with specific dietary needs, such as full cream milk for children aged one to two years, and 100 per cent juice for seniors with difficulty in chewing whole fruit.”
Now you know.
You can find the extensive list of graded drinks here.
Top images via TikTok almightyalicia
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