KHALED AL KHAWALDEH (ABU DHABI)
The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC) and the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) unveiled a new front-of-pack nutritional labelling system at the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition on Tuesday.
The "Nutri-mark" label is designed to promote healthier eating habits by assigning foods a grade from A to E, with corresponding colours to rate their nutritional value. The hope is that this initiative will enable consumers to make healthier, informed decisions within the same food category, and eventually combat the growing trend of obesity in the region.
"We want to be the first global reference case to reverse the obesity pandemic anywhere in the world. And we have all the key ingredients to do it. We have the political will alignment," Dr. Ahmed AlKhazraji, Acting Director-General of Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, told reporters on Tuesday.
"What's beautiful about the Nutri-mark that we're launching, is very simple. It's easy to read people, to understand very critically. It empowers people to make informed choices."
The initiative's first phase will target five key product groups including oils, dairy, beverages, baked goods, and children's foods including cereals and snacks.
By mid-2025, Nutri-Mark labels will begin appearing on products. A second phase will extend the system to non-packaged food through certification.
While the labelling will be voluntary for the first 6 months, it will eventually become mandatory and enforceable for products to contain the Nutri mark on their packaging.
AlKhazraji said the programme is based on similar initiatives in other countries that had seen success in addressing the challenges posed by complex ingredient lists.
"The launch of Nutri-Mark marks a pivotal moment in setting new standards for food labeling, promoting greater transparency and accountability in the industry," Abdulla Alyazeedi, Acting Secretary General Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC) said on Tuesday.
Obesity is a significant health concern in the United Arab Emirates. According to the UAE National Health Survey 2017–2018, 67.9% of adults aged 18–69 were overweight or obese, with obesity rates higher among women compared to men.
The Ministry of Health & Prevention's 2023 Obesity Study reported an overall adult obesity prevalence of 27.8%; this rate stood at 17.3% for children.
"This topic, it's not just a health issue. This is a UAE, a community issue, and by the time the health sector gets involved, it's already too late. So, the way that we are tackling this is through a whole of government approach," AlKhazraji added.