FUNCTIONAL FOODS IN SINGAPORE

摘要

Functional food is still a new concept in Singapore although it is generally accepted in the Asian culture that food and medicine is closely related. While the precise meaning of functional food is not clearly defined, there have been many activities in Singapore which involves the development of such foods. In a recent survey of food products sold in Singapore, many foods can be identified to fall into at least one category of functional foods. There are no current laws and regulation specifically for this category of foods for the same. Nevertheless, the sale of functional foods is regulated indirectly by the Sales of Food Act, 1973. Guidelines for nutrition labelling and claims are set up by the Health Promotion Board which falls under the charge of the Ministry of Health. It provides a general guideline for the sale of functional foods. The future of functional foods in Singapore lies in consumer confidence which relies, in part, on research and development in the area of functional foods.