How to Check if Your CNY Bird’s Nest is 2026 Standard Compliant (SS 718).
If you are buying bird’s nest this Chinese New Year, you might notice a new buzzword in the industry: SS 718.
Launched in October 2025 by Enterprise Singapore and Duke-NUS, SS 718:2025 is the new national standard for authenticating edible bird’s nest. Here is why this matters for your health and how to ensure you aren’t buying fakes.
What is SS 718?
Formally known as “Non-destructive authentication of edible bird’s nest using near-infrared spectroscopy,” this standard was created to fight the “fake nest” market.
Previously, testing bird’s nest required destroying the sample in a lab. The new SS 718 standard allows for rapid, non-destructive testing using light spectrum technology (NIR). This means reliable brands can now verify their stock authenticity faster and more accurately than ever before.
Why Should You Care?
Compliance with safety standards like SS 718 naturally affects the market rate. To understand why ‘cheap’ nests often come with hidden health costs, check out our analysis on Understanding Bird’s Nest Prices in Singapore: Is Quality Worth the Cost?
3 Signs Your Bird’s Nest is Authentic (The Eye Test)
Even without a spectrometer, you can spot poor quality nests at home:
- The Soak Test: Real nest expands 6-8x in water and becomes translucent. Fake nest often remains cloudy or dissolves completely.
- The Smell: Authentic nest smells faintly of egg white (protein). It should never smell like chemical bleach or plastic.
- The Crumble: Dried raw nest is brittle and breaks easily. If it feels “plastic-y” or bendable when dry, it may be coated in glue.
While these quick home checks are useful, counterfeiters are getting smarter. For a more comprehensive breakdown of red flags, read our deep dive on Authentic vs Fake: How to Identify the Best Bird’s Nest in Singapore.
Our Commitment to Purity
At SgBestBirdNest, we welcome the new SS 718 benchmark. Our nests have always been:
- 100% Hand-Cleaned (No Bleach).
- Dry-Checked for moisture content (You pay for nest, not water).
- Sourced Ethically from sustainable house farms.
> Note: Always check for the “HACCP” or “Halal” logo on your bird’s nest packaging as a baseline for safety this festive season.
