Protecting Children and Youths from Caffeine Overconsumption Through Mandatory Labelling, Health Warnings and Published Consumption Guidelines
Ministry of HealthSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether the Ministry of Health tracks caffeine-related medical cases among youth and whether it will introduce mandatory labelling, health warnings, and published consumption guidelines for caffeinated beverages. Mr Alex Yeo and Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked about medical data, conducting local studies, and requiring front-of-pack advisories or milligram-per-serving content disclosures. In response, Minister Ong Ye Kung stated that the Ministry does not track such medical cases and has not conducted local studies because caffeine effects are already well documented internationally. He highlighted that local paediatric advice recommends children under 12 avoid caffeine and adolescents limit intake to 100 milligrams daily, noting that energy drinks make up under 1% of local sugar-sweetened beverage sales and are barred from schools. Minister Ong Ye Kung added that the authorities are monitoring consumption patterns and international developments, do not rule out future measures, and provide public guidance through HealthHub and consumer advisories.
Transcript
14 Mr Alex Yeo asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health (a) whether the Ministry has data on how many children or youths have sought medical attention relating to caffeine consumption over the past two years; (b) whether the Ministry will consider studying and publishing the effects of the caffeine consumption by children and youths, including recommended guidelines; and (c) whether popular high-caffeine energy drinks should be labelled with suitable warnings of such effects.
15 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Minister for Health in light of recent findings on possible caffeine overconsumption among youths, whether the Ministry will consider requiring beverages exceeding a specified caffeine threshold to (i) display their caffeine content in milligrams per serving and (ii) carry a standardised front-of-pack caffeine advisory, particularly on recommended caffeine intake for children and adolescents.
Mr Ong Ye Kung: The Ministry of Health does not collect data on how many children or youths have sought medical attention relating to caffeine consumption.
The Ministry has not conducted studies on the effects of caffeine consumption by children and youths as this is well documented in international studies. While there is currently no recognised health-based guidance for caffeine intake and no international standards on a safe level of caffeine allowed to be added to food, local paediatric advice is that children under 12 years of age should avoid caffeine, while adolescents aged 12 to 18 years should consume no more than 100 miligrams of caffeine per day (equivalent to around one cup of coffee per day).
In Singapore, high-caffeine energy drinks have accounted for less than 1% of total sales of sugar-sweetened beverages since 2017. They are also not sold in schools because they do not meet the Healthier Choice Symbol endorsement criteria, due to potential health risk associated with high caffeine intake.
We are closely monitoring local consumption, as well as international developments. We do not rule out implementing additional measures should the risk assessment change. The public can access information on caffeine and its effects on HealthHub to support informed consumption decisions. The Consumers Association of Singapore's recent consumer advisory on caffeine consumption among youths also further reinforces the importance of being mindful of total caffeine intake, including from commonly consumed caffeinated beverages.