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| What is an artificial sweetening agent (ASA)? | |
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| An artificial sweetening agent (ASA) is a food additive used for the purpose of sweetening food, but does not include aspartame, any sugar or other carbohydrate or polyhydric alcohols (for example, sorbitol, isomalt, maltitol, lactitol and xylitol). | |
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| What are the permitted ASAs in Singapore? | |
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| The ASAs currently permitted in Singapore are Potassium Salt of Acesulfame (Acesulfame-K), Saccharin, and Sucralose. | |
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| What are the requirements for the import, sale, manufacture and/or use of permitted ASA or food products containing ASA in Singapore? | |
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An ASA licence is required for the import, sale, manufacture and/or use of permitted ASA or food products containing ASA in Singapore.
Approval for the licence would be granted only if the following criteria were met:
- The reasons for the use of ASA in food are technologically justified. For example, the products are special dietary purpose food such as low-calorie or sugar-free food.
- The ASA or products containing ASA comply fully with the standards, and the labelling requirements of the Food Regulations.
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| What are the food products required to carry a precautionary or warning statement on their labels? | |
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The following food products are required to carry a precautionary or warning statement on their labels:
- Royal jelly and food products containing royal jelly For example, "WARNING - THIS PRODUCT MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ASTHMA AND ALLERGY SUFFERERS."
- Aspartame and food products containing aspartame
For example, "PHENYLKETURONICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE."
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