UAE limits salt sugar and fat in packaged foods to improve public health
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The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) in the United Arab Emirates began enforcing new limits on the proportions of sodium, sugars, and fats in locally manufactured and imported food products on October 1.
The government intends to improve the nutritional quality of these products while ensuring they maintain the same taste and texture that consumers expect. The ministry is implementing these changes gradually through the end of 2030 to give food companies sufficient time to update their recipes.
Nouf Khamis Al Ali, the Director of the Health Promotion Department at MOHAP, stated that the ministry studied various technologies and methods that companies can use to compensate for the reduction of these ingredients. The goal is to help people avoid health issues like obesity, heart disease, and diabetes without forcing them to choose between healthy options and delicious food. MOHAP will oversee the transition by inspecting facilities and collecting food samples for laboratory testing.
The ministry will issue warnings, fines, or close establishments that fail to comply with the maximum limits. These measures aim to make healthy choices more accessible to people who may not have the time to read and compare nutrition labels while shopping.
