Healthier Food Donation Recommendation
Learn more about the Healthier Ingredient Development Scheme and grant opportunities.
Last updated 26 March 2026
What is the Healthier Food Donation Recommendation?
The “Healthier Food Donation Recommendation” aims to guide charity organisations, voluntary welfare organisations, community organisations as well as individual donor(s) in choosing healthier food products across the main food groups for the donation packs to their beneficiaries.
Any individuals or organisations with questions about the Recommendations may write to HPB_Mailbox@hpb.gov.sg.
What are the Healthier Food Donation Recommendation guidelines?
Food donation packs can meet the guidelines if they fulfil all the following criteria:
1a. Contain at least one item in each of the five main food groups1:
Staples
Oils
Meat and Alternative
Dairy and Alternative
Fruit and Vegetables
1b. Have at least one product with the Healthier Choice Symbol, Healthier Choice Symbol-equivalent2 or fresh3 item in each of the five main food groups. They may or may not be endorsed with the Healthier Choice Symbol logo:
2. Discretionary foods are of poor nutritional value and should be consumed in limited quantities4. If the food donation pack contains such discretionary foods, they will have to comply with the following requirements:
Discretionary food groups and its requirements
Discretionary food groups | Requirements |
F. Beverages | At least one Healthier Choice Symbol or Healthier Choice Symbol-equivalent item. |
G. Snacks | Recommend to limit |
H. Sauces and condiments | Recommend to limit |
3. At least one third (1/3) of the items in the food pack to be Healthier Choice Symbol2, Healthier Choice Symbol-equivalent2 or fresh3.
What are the main food groups and discretionary food groups?
Click on the accordion items below for more information on the main food groups and the discretionary food groups.
Main food groups
Main food groups and its examples
SN | Food Groups | Definition | Examples of Healthier Choice Symbol, Healthier Choice Symbol equivalent2 or fresh items3 |
|---|---|---|---|
A | Oils | Oil for cooking | Vegetable cooking oils |
B | Staples | Staples consists of carbohydrates that include rice, noodles, pasta, bread and cereals that are consumed at main meals. These products can be unrefined (e.g. white bread) or wholemeal (e.g. brown bread). | Mixed brown rice |
C | Meat and alternatives | Meat and alternatives consists of protein from both animal (e.g. eggs, sardines, chicken) and plant sources (e.g. beans, nuts). These products can be fresh (e.g. eggs, tofu), canned or processed (e.g. canned tuna, sausages). | Fresh Eggs |
D | Dairy and alternatives | Dairy and alternatives consists of products made from milk that are from animal (e.g. cow’s milk) and plant (e.g. soy-bean milk) sources. These products can be fresh (e.g. milk) or processed (e.g. condensed milk). | Unsweetened, full or low fat, plain milk (fresh or UHT or powdered) |
E | Fruits and vegetables | Fruit and vegetables consists of plant produce that can be in fresh, canned, frozen, dried or preserved form. | Dried Fruits |
Discretionary food groups
Discretionary food groups and its examples
SN | Food Groups | Definition | Examples of Healthier Choice Symbol, Healthier Choice Symbol equivalent2 or fresh items3 |
|---|---|---|---|
F | Beverages | Beverages consist of any drink products. This category, however, exclude dairy beverages (e.g. milk, yogurt drinks or soy milk). | Malted and chocolate powdered drinks |
G | Snacks | Snacks include confectionary (e.g. biscuits, chocolates) and processed foods that are eaten usually between meals. | Biscuits and crackers |
H | Sauces and condiments | Sauces and condiments consists of seasoning products | Chilli sauce |
1Eating balanced meals are important for healthy diets. The five food groups are selected to provide a balance of foods from the major food groups. For more information on eating balanced meals, refer to HPB’s My Healthy Plate.
2To qualify as Healthier Choice Symbol Equivalent, products must adhere to the relevant Healthier Choice Symbol Guidelines (updated regularly on the HPB website “www.hpb.gov.sg/food-beverage/healthier-choice-symbol”.
3‘Fresh’ foods are foods that are raw and unprocessed such as: oranges, bananas, apples, tomatoes, brinjal, okra and kai lan
4Discretionary food consumption should be limited as they are high in salt, sugar or fat.