UAE to introduce colour-coded food labels to promote healthy eating

Making healthier food choices is about to get easier, as the UAE is set to roll-out colour-coded labels on foods to let people know their nutritional value.

The nationwide policy, which will become mandatory by 2022, will see foods labelled in three colours: red (not healthy; avoid frequent consumption), amber (not completely healthy, but moderate consumption is okay), and green (healthy; okay to eat regularly). Calorie counts are also set to be included.

News of the food labels comes after the UAE Cabinet announced in August it would expand the list of products subject to excise tax to include sugary drinks and electronic smoking devices. The tax goes into effect from January 1, 2020.

READ: UAE to tax sugary drinks, e-cigarettes from 2020

A 100 per cent excise tax will be applied to electronic smoking devices – regardless of whether they have nicotine or tobacco – and the liquids for electronic smoking devices.

A statement released by the Cabinet General Secretariat said, “The decision comes to support the UAE government’s efforts to enhance public health and prevent chronic diseases directly linked to sugar and tobacco consumption.”

According to a report carried by Emirates News Agency (WAM), the decision for the tax is to help reduce people’s consumption of unhealthy products that can have serious negative effects on the body and mind.