Quality control and health officials in Abu Dhabi have introduced a new nutrition grading system that will be mandatory for six food items starting June 1. Products found on supermarket shelves without the Nutri-Mark label or displaying an incorrect grading will be removed, and the responsible parties will face fines. The Nutri-Mark system rates the nutritional value of items from A to E, with A being the healthiest. The initial phase of this new initiative covers baked goods, oils, dairy products, children’s food, and beverages. Manufacturers and local agents of these items must conduct scientifically-backed assessments to accurately grade their products and affix Nutri-Mark labels on the front packaging.
“They do not need to send the products to us for testing; we will conduct supermarket surveillance and take samples of the labeled products. After June 1, any products found without the Nutri-Mark will be withdrawn, and retailers will be fined,” explained Abdulla Al Nuaimi, Executive Director of the Central Testing Lab at Abu Dhabi Quality & Conformity Council (ADQCC). Additionally, if a tested sample shows an inaccurate grading, it will be recalled, and the manufacturer will be fined. The exact amount of the fines has not yet been determined. One of the primary concerns expressed by manufacturers during initial briefings was the additional cost in Abu Dhabi’s competitive market, but Mr. Al Nuaimi expects full compliance from all suppliers.
The new system aims to combat obesity by providing consumers with clear and easily understandable information about the nutritional values of products, according to Dr. Ahmed Al Khazraji, Acting Director-General of Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre. The recorded rate of overweight residents in Abu Dhabi is 61%, with 22% being obese, while 37% of children are overweight, and 18% are obese. “These are alarming numbers that we must address now because they could become even more frightening in the future, not just here but globally,” Dr. Al Khazraji said. “A lack of understanding of nutritional values often leads to unhealthy food choices, significantly contributing to the rising obesity problem. Many people struggle to interpret complex ingredient lists and their health implications.”
Nutri-Mark does not categorize products as ‘good’ or ‘bad’; instead, it highlights the differences in nutritional content between similar products. A similar rating system has been successfully implemented in several countries. “We conducted a comprehensive study of all existing schemes and decided to follow a similar approach to Nutri-Score, the five-color nutrition label that originated in France and has been adapted across eight European countries. We customized it for Abu Dhabi by making it mandatory, unlike the voluntary system in Europe, and ensured it meets UAE standards, including halal specifications,” explained Mr. Al Nuaimi.
A future project will involve reformulating food items to achieve better Nutri-Mark rankings. “For instance, if a company’s product has an E-grading and we want them to improve to C or D, we will collaborate with manufacturers to reformulate their products through our testing labs. Our goal is to enhance the nutritional value of all products in the market to achieve better grades,” he said. He cited examples of companies that improved their product grades by reformulating, such as a beverage company that reduced sugar content by adding apple juice and a soft drinks company in Singapore that gradually lowered sugar levels from 11 to 4.5 over the years.
Nutri-Mark is a joint initiative between ADQCC and ADPHC, announced during the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition (ADIFE) held in the capital from November 26 to 28. More food items will be included under the Nutri-Mark system after the initial phase.
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