The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has identified energy drinks as part of the “High in Sugar” category in its new proposed labeling standards.
“[T]here are beverages like energy drinks that are really high in sugar,” Trade Secretary E
Ramon M. Lopez said in a statement.
According to Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, to determine drinks high in sugar, the agency is recommending the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)—in consultation with agencies such as the Food and Nutrition Research Institute and stakeholders—to adopt a benchmark that is greater than 25 grams of the sweetener per 200mL serving.
This standard, according to Mr. Lopez, will cover energy drinks that would usually have 46 grams of sugar per 240ml serving.
“This one drink is already close to the maximum 50gm sugar intake per day,” the Trade chief said. “If that is 330 ml bottle, then it would be around 63.2gm sugar per bottle.”
“For this type of drink, we would strongly suggest to FDA to add the words ‘High in Sugar’, before mentioning the sugar contents in the label,” he said. — Janina C. Lim

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