Dubai residents love to eat out and with more and more delivery services coming handy, this trend seems to have been fuelled. Health authorities estimate that more than 40 per cent of children are either overweight or obese.
Even though a recent government health survey, spread over five years, shows a decline in the obesity rate in the UAE, previous studies had revealed higher than average obesity rates.
Keeping residents health in check, Dubai Municipality has started a new drive asking Dubai restaurants to clearly mention the calorie content of every meal on the menu by January next year.
The implementation of the new rule will take place in two phases. The first phase requires all restaurants and cafes with more than five branches to launch new menus with calorie counts by the beginning of November this year, followed by the second phase which will include all restaurants, catering establishments and hotels with a deadline of January 2020.
The step has been taken in line with the ongoing National Nutrition Agenda, 2017-2021 to boost the healthy eating habits of residents.
It aims to create more health awareness and consciousness among residents about what they eat and push restaurants to offer more nutricious options.
Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality says, “ 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.”