Can we do more to discourage buying of unhealthy food?

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, October 8, 2026

The 2025 National Nutrition Survey revealed that many public environments in Singapore, such as hawker centres and supermarkets, promote unhealthy eating by making high-calorie foods more accessible and visible than healthier options. Experts recommend structural changes, including labeling reforms and regulatory measures, to encourage better dietary choices and combat the rising prevalence of obesogenic settings.

The 2025 National Nutrition Survey has underscored concerning trends in the dietary habits of Singaporeans, highlighting the prevalence of environments that may contribute to unhealthy eating patterns. Experts note that many public spaces, including hawker centres, coffee shops, shopping malls, and supermarkets, create conditions that encourage overconsumption of high-calorie foods while making healthier choices less accessible.

The concept of an "obesogenic environment" has been used to describe settings that promote excessive calorie intake and hinder physical activity. In Singapore, this environment is evident in multiple aspects of daily life. For example, shopping malls commonly feature a wide array of fast food outlets and confectionery shops, some offering large portion sizes with significant calorie content. Within supermarkets, unhealthy snacks are often displayed prominently, including at checkout counters, increasing the likelihood of impulse purchases by consumers who had not initially intended to buy such items.

Calls have been made for measures to reduce the obesogenic nature of these spaces. One proposal suggests that supermarkets should confine unhealthy snacks to designated aisles rather than dispersing them throughout the store. In contrast, healthier beverages and snacks could be grouped together with clear, visible "Healthy Choice" labels to guide consumers toward better options. Additionally, displaying informational posters that outline recommended daily limits for caloric intake, salt, sugar, and fat could raise public awareness and encourage more informed decisions.

On a broader scale, there are suggestions for government agencies to implement regulatory steps to promote healthier eating. These could include mandatory calorie counts on all food and beverage menus and integrating calorie calculators within food and beverage ordering systems to help consumers track their intake more easily.

The survey’s findings and subsequent discussions highlight the complexity of influencing dietary behavior, suggesting that structural changes in how food is marketed and presented may be necessary to support healthier lifestyles in Singapore.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.