Dubai restaurants will begin to inform about the calorie content of dishes

Dubai authorities are preparing to oblige the catering establishments of the emirate to indicate the nutritional value of dishes as part of the fight against overweight in the country.

Dubai authorities are developing mandatory rules for labeling the calorie content of dishes in catering establishments of the emirate. The initiative is part of the national anti-weight program.

Unveiling the information will allow consumers to make “healthy” choices, says Dr. Waffa Ayes, Director of Clinical Nutrition at Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

“This step will help advance the concept of reasonable nutrition and keep people from choosing high-calorie foods,” she said.

She added that the problem of overweight around the world is gaining momentum due to irregular meals and constant snacks outside the home.

“Requiring restaurants to provide consumers with nutritional and calorie information in a direct and accessible way will help them get the information they need and hopefully make a healthy, dietary choice,” said Waffa Ayes.

According to data from 2013, more than 66% of men and 60% of women in the UAE are overweight or obese. DHA and Dubai Municipality are working on a phased program that will help restaurants make the necessary changes. Waffa Ayesh assured that her department will do everything in its power to improve the nutritional style of members of the Dubai communities.

She added that in many cities around the world, the calorie informing rule for restaurants applies. One such example is Oklahoma City in America, whose mayor Mick Cornett urged residents to go on a dietary plan. More than 47 thousand people who joined this initiative, jointly lost more than 453 thousand kg in four years.

Mayor Cornett, speaking at a health forum in Dubai, said Dubai could follow the lead of an American city.

“Like Dubai, Oklahoma is a 20th-century city, so it was created for cars, not pedestrians,” he said.

The mayor called on residents to vote to make the city more accessible to pedestrians and exercise.

“I don’t like the idea of ​​taxing excess weight or sugar, but giving people more information about what they eat is a good idea,” concluded Mayor Cornett.

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