UAE to Introduce Letter Grades on Food Products for Nutrition

Abu Dhabi: In the UAE, food products like oil, dairy, drinks, and children’s food will soon have new labels showing how healthy they are. This will make it easier for people to see the nutrition of the food without reading long lists of ingredients.

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The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (ADQCC) and the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC) have created a new system called "Nutri-Mark." This system was introduced at the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition (ADIFE). The new label will show a letter grade from A to E, with A being the healthiest and E being the least healthy. The labels will also use different colors: dark green for A, light green, yellow, orange, and red for E. These grades depend on how much fat, salt, fiber, and other nutrients the food has.

Officials said that the label doesn’t mean that food is either “good” or “bad,” but it shows how foods in the same category compare. A lower grade doesn’t mean the food is unsafe. It just means that it’s not as healthy as others in the same group. All food in the UAE is safe and follows strict health and safety rules.

The Nutri-Mark labels will start in Abu Dhabi by mid-2025, and later the labels will be used across the UAE. Eng. Abdulla Alyazeedi, the Acting Secretary-General of ADQCC, said that the labels will help people make better decisions about what to eat. He also said it will encourage food companies and stores to be honest about what’s in their food. “This will improve health and show that Abu Dhabi has high standards,” he added.

At first, the Nutri-Mark labels will be used on five main types of food: dairy, oils, drinks, baked goods, and food for children between 3 and 18 years old, like snacks and cereals. Later, the labels will be used on other food types, and there will be a system for unpackaged food.

Dr. Ahmed AlKhazraji, Acting Director-General of ADPHC, explained that the goal is to help people live healthier lives. “A lot of people don’t understand the nutrition in food, and this system will make it easier to choose better foods,” he said.

The ADQCC’s Central Testing Laboratory makes sure the labels are correct. Eng. Abdulla Al Muaini, who works at the lab, said that the lab checks the food to make sure the labels are accurate. “We test the food so the labels give people clear information to make healthy choices,” he explained.

The lab also works with food manufacturers and stores to make sure their products meet the rules. This teamwork helps businesses meet the UAE’s health goals and gives customers honest and clear information about the food they buy. The UAE is working together to help people choose healthier food.