KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 — You may have noticed a familiar logo from your supermarket items now appearing on the menus of your favourite eateries.

This is the Healthier Choice Logo (HCL) that is at the heart of the government’s recently rebranded push to make dining out in Malaysia a healthier experience.

With popular tea chain Chagee recently joining the scheme, here’s a breakdown of what the logo means, how the programme works, and why it matters.

What is the Healthier Dining Programme (HDP)?

The Healthier Dining Programme (HDP) is a Health Ministry initiative that encourages food and beverage outlets to offer healthier options.

Launched in 2024, the HDP is a rebranding and update of the previous “MyChoice” programme (which ran from 2021). Participation remains voluntary, but it aims to encourage restaurants towards creating healthier menus.

What does the logo mean?

The HDP no longer uses the old “MyChoice” logo. Instead, it adopts the Healthier Choice Logo (HCL) that you already see on packaged foods in supermarkets. 

When you see the HCL next to a menu item, it signifies that the dish or drink has met specific, strict nutritional criteria set by the Health Ministry.

What are the new nutrient rules?

The criteria were updated in 2024 with the launch of the HDP. 

For beverages, the rule now focuses solely on sugar, requiring that a certified drink contains 5g of sugar or less per 100ml.

For set meals, the rules are more flexible but all start with a mandatory energy limit. Every certified meal must contain 500 kcal or less. 

From there, a meal can be certified under one of four categories: a calorie-only category; a category that also includes at least one serving of vegetables; a category that also limits sodium to 650mg or less; or a comprehensive category that meets the calorie, vegetable, and sodium criteria all at once.

From supermarkets to restaurants

The HDP is the government’s strategy to bring the familiar HCL from the supermarket aisle to the restaurant table. 

While the HCL has long helped consumers choose healthier manufactured goods, the HDP applies the same principle to the food Malaysians buy most often: freshly prepared meals and drinks.

As of September 2025, 12 restaurant operators had joined the HDP, including major chains like OldTown White Coffee, Salad Atelier, and Ikea Malaysia.

Why does this matter?

Malaysians eat out frequently, and food prepared outside the home tends to be higher in sugar, fat, and sodium, which are major contributors to obesity and other non-communicable diseases.

The Healthier Choice Logo is designed to be a simple, real-time tool. 

By looking for the familiar red symbol next to menu items, you can instantly know that a dish or drink meets the government’s standards for a healthier option, making it easier to make better choices for yourself and your family.

* The information in this article has been updated following clarifications from the Ministry of Health regarding the programme.