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Dubai Municipality has issued a circular to food establishments in Dubai making it compulsory to declare in their menus the calorie content of all ready-to-eat food items served. This is part of the Municipality's efforts to raise awareness about the nutritional values of the meals consumed by diners. Dubai Municipality will be the first local authority in the country to do so.
Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality emphasised that making it mandatory to declare the calorie content of food items on the menus is part of the Municipality's initiatives for a better life in line with the goals of National Nutrition Agenda 2017 - 2021.
"Dubai Municipality's initiative is to oblige food establishments to be fully transparent in declaring calories on all foods to give consumers the ability to choose food that suits their health status. It is an innovative program of Dubai Municipality and through it the Municipality will encourage restaurants to provide healthy and tasty meals to consumers to achieve Dubai Municipality's vision of developing a happy and sustainable city," pointed out Al Hajri.
He added that this initiative comes with the increasing pace of life, where consumers resort to unhealthy food choices due to their availability and accessibility. "It is also due to the keenness of the Municipality to encourage the food establishments to provide balanced and healthy meals to enhance the health of the community and also as their contribution towards the prevention of diseases caused by unhealthy meals," said Al Hajri.
Based on this circular, the first deadline will be the beginning of November for restaurants, cafeterias and cafes with more than 5 branches and the second phase will be in January 2020, which will include all restaurants, catering establishments and hotels.
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