Many countries are becoming increasingly serious about regulating food and beverage consumption through nutrition labeling policies. These systems are designed to help consumers quickly understand nutritional content while also reducing excessive intake of sugar, salt, and fat.
From Asia to Europe and Latin America, different approaches have been adopted, ranging from color-coded rating systems to strict warning labels. Most recently, Indonesia joined this trend by officially implementing the Nutri Level system in 2026, marking an initial step toward controlling the consumption of sugary beverages in the country.
1. Singapore
Singapore became the first Southeast Asian country to progressively implement nutrition labeling, particularly for beverages. The Singapore Ministry of Health requires all freshly prepared drinks, such as bubble tea, coffee, and tea, to display Nutri-Grade labels starting from December 30, 2023, after first applying the system to pre-packaged beverages in December 2022.
This label classifies beverages into four categories, from A to D, based on their sugar and saturated fat content. Category A (dark green) indicates the lowest content, while Category D (red) indicates the highest.
In detail, Category A includes drinks containing no more than 1 gram of sugar or 0.7 grams of saturated fat per 100 ml. In contrast, Category D is assigned to drinks containing more than 10 grams of sugar or more than 2.8 grams of saturated fat.
This policy is also accompanied by advertising restrictions. Drinks classified as Category D are prohibited from being advertised in order to reduce public consumption. In addition, all products are required to display complete nutritional information, including calories, sugar, fat, and protein.
2. France
France was the world's first country to introduce the Nutri-Score system in 2017. The system was developed by the French public health authority in collaboration with independent nutrition experts.
Nutri-Score uses a five-letter scale from A to E combined with a color gradient from green to red. The letter A (dark green) represents the best nutritional quality, while E (red) represents the lowest.
The scoring system takes into account the specific characteristics of each food category. For example, oils with lower saturated fat content, such as olive oil, may receive a better score. Products such as fatty fish, which are rich in omega-3, are also given higher ratings.
For beverages, water is the only product that receives an A rating. Meanwhile, drinks containing artificial sweeteners generally fall into categories C to E.
3. Chile
Chile is widely recognized as a pioneer in implementing warning labels on food and beverages. In 2016, the country enacted Law 20.606, which requires products high in sugar, salt, or fat to display clear warning labels on their packaging.
This policy was driven by high obesity rates. In 2022, 78 percent of adults in Chile were classified as overweight, significantly higher than the global average of 60 percent according to the World Health Organization.
In addition to labeling, Chile also bans the advertising of unhealthy products to children under the age of 14, including the use of characters, giveaways, and promotions in school environments. The sale of products with warning labels in schools is also prohibited.
4. European Union (EU)
In the European Union, nutrition labeling has become a common practice to help consumers make healthier choices. Nutritional information is mandatory on most packaged foods and is typically displayed on the back of the product.
In addition, front-of-pack nutrition labels are becoming increasingly popular, although they remain voluntary. Various schemes are used across member states, but Nutri-Score, which originated in France, is one of the most widely adopted systems.
Nutri-Score uses a scale from A to E, combined with colors ranging from green to red, to indicate the nutritional quality of products. The system was first implemented in France in 2017 and later adopted by Belgium in 2019. Other countries, including Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, and the Netherlands, have also begun adopting it.
Several major companies such as Nestlé, Danone, and Carrefour have implemented this label across different European markets. However, not all countries agree with the system. Italy, for example, considers it too simplistic and potentially misleading for certain products.
Looking ahead, the European Union continues to discuss the possibility of harmonizing nutrition labeling across the region, including whether such a system should be made mandatory or remain voluntary.
5. Indonesia
Indonesia officially implemented the Nutri Level system through Minister of Health Decree Number HK.01.07/MENKES/301/2026, issued on April 14, 2026. This policy requires nutrition labeling on ready-to-drink beverages, particularly those produced by large-scale businesses.
The system divides products into four levels, namely A (dark green), B (light green), C (yellow), and D (red), based on their sugar, salt, and fat content.
For sugar content, Level A is set at a maximum of 1 gram, Level B above 1 up to 5 grams, Level C between 5 and 10 grams, and Level D above 10 grams. Meanwhile, for saturated fat, Level A is set at less than or equal to 0.7 grams, up to Level D which exceeds 2.8 grams.
The label must be displayed across various media, including packaging, menu lists, and digital platforms. The goal is to provide direct information to consumers before purchase while encouraging changes in consumption behavior.
At the initial stage, this policy does not yet target micro, small, and medium enterprises. The government hopes this step will increase public awareness of the risks associated with excessive consumption of sugar, salt, and fat, while also reducing the potential for chronic diseases in the future.
