Nutri-Grade A Drinks in Singapore: The 2026 Healthier Choice Directory

Nutri-Grade A drinks Singapore consumers reach for first include plain water, unsweetened tea, plain low-fat milk, and a small but growing list of beverages that meet the strictest threshold of the Health Promotion Board’s grading system. Grade A is not just "low sugar". It has no added sugar, no sweetener of any kind, and minimal saturated fat. This directory covers what qualifies as a Nutri-Grade A drink in Singapore in 2026, what the actual numerical thresholds are, where to find these drinks on the shelf, and why some functional and premium beverages choose Grade B by design rather than chasing A.

What Is Nutri-Grade? A Quick Primer

Nutri-Grade is the mandatory front-of-pack labelling system for pre-packaged beverages sold in Singapore. It came into force on 30 December 2022, was extended to freshly prepared beverages on 30 December 2023, and applies across retail, F&B outlets, hotels, workplaces, and educational institutions.

The system grades beverages from A (healthiest) to D (least healthy) based on two nutrients: sugar and saturated fat per 100ml. Grades C and D must display the Nutri-Grade mark on packaging and on menus. Grades A and B can display the mark voluntarily. Grade D drinks cannot be advertised at all.

The official rules for Nutri-Grade A drinks Singapore consumers see on shelves are published by the Health Promotion Board and codified under the Food Regulations. The thresholds are precise. Worth knowing before stocking, ordering, or judging a beverage by its grade.

Nutri-Grade A: What Actually Qualifies

A Nutri-Grade A beverage must clear three bars at the same time. Sugar at 1 gram or less per 100ml. Saturated fat at 0.7 grams or less per 100ml. And critically, no non-sugar sweetener of any kind, including aspartame, sucralose, stevia, monk fruit, sugar alcohols, or polyhydric alcohols. Even if a drink would otherwise qualify on the sugar and fat numbers, the presence of any sweetener bumps it down to Grade B.

Here is the full grading table for context:

That third rule is the one most consumers and operators miss. A "diet" or "zero sugar" cola sweetened with aspartame or sucralose is not Grade A. Neither is a stevia-sweetened iced tea. Both could otherwise hit the sugar threshold easily, but the sweetener disqualifies them from A. They land at Grade B instead.

Nutri-Grade A Drinks in Singapore: The Directory

The list of true Nutri-Grade A drinks in Singapore is shorter than most people expect because of the sweetener rule. Here is the working directory by category for 2026.

Plain water and mineral water

Every plain bottled water on the Singapore market is Grade A by default. Examples include Ice Mountain, F&N Pure, Pokka Natural Mineral Water, and most house brands at FairPrice and Cold Storage. Sparkling waters without added sugar or sweetener also qualify.

Unsweetened tea

Tea brewed with leaves and water only, with no sugar and no sweetener added, lands at A. Look for the word "unsweetened" or "no sugar added" on the label, and check the ingredient list for sweetener names. Pokka Unsweetened Green Tea, Pokka Unsweetened Jasmine Green Tea, and Heaven and Earth Unsweetened green and oolong teas are well-known A-grade examples on Singapore shelves. Most premium imported Japanese teas in cans (Itoen, Suntory) are also unsweetened and grade A.

Black coffee, no sugar

Pre-packaged black coffee with no added sugar and no sweetener qualifies for A. The list is small. Most ready-to-drink coffee on Singapore shelves carries milk and sugar, which puts it in B, C, or D. Pure black coffee in a can is rare but it is around.

Plain low-fat and skim milk

Skim milk and most low-fat milks land at A because the saturated fat is below 0.7g per 100ml and there is no added sugar. Magnolia Lo-Fat Hi-Cal, Marigold Hl Lo-Fat, F&N Magnolia Plain Skim, and Meiji Pasteurised Skim Milk are typical examples. Full-fat milk gets downgraded because of saturated fat content alone.

Unsweetened plant milks

Unsweetened versions of soy milk, almond milk, oat milk, and coconut milk drinks generally qualify for A when they have no added sugar and no sweetener. Look for "no sugar added" or "unsweetened" variants from brands like Vitasoy, NutriSoy, MILO Nutri (only the unsweetened variants), Alpro, and Oatly. Sweetened plant milks are usually Grade B or C.

Unsweetened fruit and vegetable juices

Pure fruit juice usually does not make Grade A because of natural fruit sugar. Vegetable juices with no added sugar can qualify. Tomato juice and some pure vegetable juice blends sit at A. Most fruit juices, even "100% juice", land at B, C, or D depending on the fruit.

Nutri-Grade A vs B: The Sweetener Rule

The line between Nutri-Grade A and B is mostly about sweeteners. A drink can hit identical sugar and saturated fat numbers as a Grade A product and still be Grade B if it uses any sweetener. That includes natural ones like stevia and monk fruit. The system does not distinguish between artificial and natural sweeteners for grading purposes.

This produces a counterintuitive result. A zero-sugar functional drink sweetened with stevia is Grade B. A juice with 5 grams of natural fruit sugar per 100ml is also Grade B. The two are quite different products from a health perspective, but they share the same grade. That is why Nutri-Grade is a useful guide rather than a complete picture.

Both A and B count as "healthier choice" beverages under HPB guidance, and both are eligible for the Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS). HCS guidelines were revised to align with the Nutri-Grade system, so any HCS drink is either A or B by definition.

Why Some Healthier Drinks Choose Grade B

Plenty of premium and functional Nutri-Grade A drinks Singapore retailers carry are joined on the shelf by deliberately Grade B alternatives. The B-by-design approach is more common than most consumers realise. The reason is usually one of three things, sometimes all three at once.

First, taste. Pure unsweetened drinks are an acquired taste for many consumers. A small amount of natural sweetener can move a product from "interesting" to "drinks again", which matters more for repeat purchase than a one-grade difference on the label. Second, function. Some active ingredients like adaptogens and certain probiotics carry bitter or earthy notes that benefit from a hint of sweetness for palatability. Third, format. Functional drinks designed to replace soft drinks need to feel like a proper beverage, not water with an after-thought.

Curated Culture is one example. The brand is Nutri-Grade B, not A, because it uses zero added sugar with a natural sweetener to deliver flavour without bumping into the sugar threshold. Relax pairs Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG (L.rhamnosus GG) with ashwagandha at 10 billion CFU per can in Grape Açaí and Lychee Rose. Recover delivers BCAAs, postbiotics, and electrolytes in Tangy Citrus at 8 calories per can. Both ranges are halal certified and ambient shelf-stable for around 24 months. The B grade is a deliberate trade-off: better consumer adoption, in exchange for a single grade step on the label.

For functional drinks specifically, the B grade still carries advertising freedom that C and D do not. Nutri-Grade B clears the same advertising rules as Grade A. The label can still display the Healthier Choice Symbol if it qualifies. From an operator and marketing standpoint, A and B sit in the same regulatory bucket.

Where to Buy Them in Singapore

Finding Nutri-Grade A drinks in Singapore is straightforward once you know where to look. The major channels:

• FairPrice and FairPrice Finest — Largest assortment of A and B drinks across plain water, unsweetened tea, plain milk, and plant milks. Filter by Nutri-Grade in the online store.

• Cold Storage and CS Fresh — Premium and imported A-grade options including Japanese unsweetened teas, organic plant milks, and specialty waters.

• Sheng Siong — Strong on plain water, unsweetened canned teas, and standard skim milk at value pricing.

• Little Farms — Specialty store with strong selection on premium plant milks and clean-label functional beverages.

• Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Cheers) — Limited but reliable on plain water and the most popular unsweetened teas.

• Vending machines — A and B drinks are increasingly stocked. Grade D drinks have specific display restrictions.

For a fuller view of the broader healthier drinks landscape on Singapore shelves, see our healthy drinks Singapore guide.

How to Read a Nutri-Grade Label

Nutri-Grade marks display two pieces of information. The grade letter (A, B, C, or D) and the sugar percentage of the beverage. Some marks also include the saturated fat percentage. The colour coding is straightforward: A is dark green, B is light green, C is orange, and D is red.

Three quick checks before buying:

• Look at the grade letter first. A or B is the healthier-choice tier. C and D are not.

• Check the sugar percentage. A drink can be Grade B at 4.9g per 100ml, which is close to the C threshold. The grade tells you the bucket. The number tells you where in the bucket.

• Read the ingredient list for sweeteners if you are sweetener-sensitive. Both A and B are Healthier Choice, but A is the only grade with no sweetener at all.

The Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) is a separate but related mark. Any drink with HCS is now Grade A or B, but not every A or B drink carries HCS. The two systems run in parallel and reinforce each other.

For Operators: Stocking the Right Mix

From a B2B perspective, the Nutri-Grade scheme has reshaped what stocks well in Singapore. Schools are restricted to A and B drinks only. Most government and healthcare facilities follow the same rule. Hotels are voluntarily moving toward A and B mixes for in-room amenity, MICE event catering, and corporate pantry programmes. Cafés are reformulating signature drinks to clear B rather than C. Operator demand for Nutri-Grade A drinks Singapore-wide has driven supplier reformulation across both retail and on-trade.

A practical mix for most operator formats looks like this. Plain water and unsweetened tea cover the strict-A consumer. One or two zero-sugar functional drinks at Grade B cover the consumer who wants flavour without sugar load. One or two flavoured B-grade options like a stevia-sweetened sparkling water or a fortified iced tea cover the soft-drink replacement occasion. Together, that is roughly five to seven SKUs that handle the bulk of healthier-choice demand.

Curated Culture sits in the second bucket. Nutri-Grade B, zero added sugar, halal certified, ambient shelf-stable for around 24 months, and developed with the NUS Food Science and Technology department. Currently in 350+ locations across Singapore and Malaysia, including Little Farms and CS Fresh on retail, Raffles Hotel, W Sentosa, and Westin on hospitality, and corporate pantries at Google, Meta, LinkedIn, and Stripe. Top-performing stores move 20 to 30 units per location per week.

FAQ: Nutri-Grade A Drinks in Singapore

Is Nutri-Grade A always healthier than B?

Not necessarily. A and B are both classified as healthier choices by HPB. A means no sweetener at all, which makes it the strictest tier. But a Grade B drink that uses zero added sugar with a small amount of natural sweetener can deliver similar nutritional outcomes to Grade A while being more palatable. The right pick depends on your specific preferences and goals, not the letter alone.

Can a diet soda be Nutri-Grade A?

No. Even if a diet soda has zero sugar and zero saturated fat, the artificial sweetener (aspartame, sucralose, etc.) automatically downgrades it to Grade B. The Nutri-Grade A tier is reserved for drinks with no sweetener of any kind.

What is the difference between Nutri-Grade and the Healthier Choice Symbol?

The Healthier Choice Symbol (HCS) is a voluntary positive mark indicating that a product is healthier than typical alternatives in its category. The Nutri-Grade system is mandatory for beverages and uses a four-tier scale. HCS guidelines have been aligned with Nutri-Grade so that any HCS drink is either Grade A or B. Not every A or B drink carries HCS, but every HCS drink is at least B.

Are all Nutri-Grade A drinks unsweetened?

Yes, by definition. Grade A requires no added sugar and no sweetener of any kind. So every Nutri-Grade A drink is unsweetened, although it can still have natural sweetness from ingredients like fruit pulp, lactose in milk, or naturally sweet tea leaves.

Is Curated Culture Nutri-Grade A?

No. Curated Culture is Nutri-Grade B. The product is zero added sugar with a natural sweetener, which automatically places it in Grade B rather than A regardless of the actual sugar content. The brand chose this trade-off to deliver consumer-friendly flavour while remaining a healthier-choice beverage. Both A and B sit in the same regulatory and HCS-aligned tier.

The Bottom Line on Nutri-Grade A Drinks in Singapore

Nutri-Grade A drinks in Singapore are a useful starting point for anyone trying to reduce sugar intake or stock a healthier beverage line. The list is shorter than people expect once you understand the no-sweetener rule. Plain water, unsweetened tea, plain skim milk, unsweetened plant milks, and pure black coffee cover most of the category.

Grade B sits one step down on paper but is still in the healthier-choice tier. It is where most premium functional drinks land by design, including zero-sugar functional iced teas like Curated Culture. The two grades together cover what HPB and most operators define as the healthier-choice fridge.

For consumers, the practical advice is straightforward: prioritise Nutri-Grade A drinks Singapore-wide for daily hydration, lean on B for flavour and function, and treat C and D as occasional rather than habitual. Operators should usually combine both grades to cover daily hydration, soft-drink replacement, and functional positioning.

Wholesale and distribution enquiries: Stock functional iced tea that sells →

Consumers can: Try Curated Culture — shop online or find us in 350+ locations →