Eatery defends 30-cent surcharge for ‘no sugar’ drinks, says healthier alternative costs more
A 30-cent surcharge for ordering drinks with “no sugar” at Srisun Express has raised questions about how healthier beverage options are priced.
A screenshot of the local eatery’s digital ordering menu showed that a regular Milo costs $2.80 and carries a Nutri-Grade D label, indicating a high sugar content of 12 per cent.
However, customers who select the “no sugar” option under the customisation tab are charged an additional 30 cents.
One customer, who discovered the surcharge while ordering drinks for his children, questioned the logic behind the pricing.
“I don’t understand this. At the national level, everyone is moving towards a healthier lifestyle and diet, but you’re penalising people for choosing a less sweet version,” said Derrick, a 37-year-old public servant who declined to give his full name.
“How does this make any sense? Why would this motivate me to choose the healthier option?”
Srisun Express has multiple outlets across Singapore, including in Serangoon Gardens, Bishan and Tampines. The halal-certified casual eatery is known for its prata and towering iced Milo drinks.
‘No sugar’ option requires different ingredients
In response to Stomp’s queries, a spokesperson for Srisun Express explained that the surcharge applies to beverages traditionally prepared using sweetened condensed milk, such as Milo, Horlicks and Teh Cino.
According to the spokesperson, the sweetness and creaminess of such drinks come directly from condensed milk. When customers request a “no sugar” version, the eatery is unable to use condensed milk due to its high sugar content.
To maintain the drink’s intended taste and texture, the eatery substitutes the condensed milk with evaporated milk — which is “significantly more costly”.
A check with several supermarkets show that a can of condensed milk costs between $2.72 and $2.75 while a can of evaporated milk costs between $2.34 and $2.55.
“With the continued rise in ingredient and operational costs, the additional $0.30 charge helps us cover the higher cost of ingredients while still maintaining the quality and consistency of our beverages,” the spokesperson said.
The eatery added that the surcharge applies only to drinks originally prepared with sweetened condensed milk.
Drinks that are naturally made without sugar or condensed milk — such as Teh O, Kopi O, Limau and Teh O Longan — do not incur any additional charge when ordered without sugar.
Srisun Express emphasised that the intention behind this pricing adjustment is not to discourage healthier choices, but rather to account for the higher ingredient costs involved in preparing customised versions of certain beverages while maintaining product quality.
Surcharge not displayed on certain ordering channels
Checks from Stomp revealed that the surcharge was missing from food delivery apps, such as Grab.
Sri Sun Express clarified that it is a technical inconsistency. The eatery stated that they are currently rectifying with their vendors to ensure that pricing and customisation information are communicated more “clearly and transparently” across all ordering platforms.
Explore more on these topics
See something interesting? Contribute your story to us.
