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Gulf Insider
02-07-2025
- Health
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia Enforces New Menu Rules To Flag Salt, Caffeine And Calorie Burn
Restaurants and cafes across Saudi Arabia are now required to display detailed nutritional information on their menus under a new directive from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) that came into effect on July 1. The regulation, which applies to both physical and digital menus — including food delivery apps — is aimed at helping consumers make more informed dietary choices and addressing rising public health concerns such as hypertension and obesity. Under the updated technical regulations, food outlets must now: Label high-sodium meals with a visible saltshaker icon Disclose caffeine content in beverages Indicate the estimated time needed to burn off the calories in each food or drink item 'These measures are designed to help people monitor their intake of salt, sugar, and caffeine in line with global health recommendations,' the SFDA said in a statement. The initiative reflects a growing focus on lifestyle-related health issues in the Kingdom, where non-communicable diseases like heart disease, obesity, and diabetes are on the rise. By promoting transparency and nutritional literacy, the SFDA hopes to support the government's broader public health goals under Vision 2030. According to the World Health Organization, adults should limit their daily sodium intake to 5 grams (about one teaspoon), while safe caffeine consumption is capped at 400 mg per day for most adults and 200 mg for pregnant women. To help both businesses and individuals comply with the new rules, the SFDA has launched several digital tools, including an online CaffeineCalculator that lets users estimate their daily intake based on age and lifestyle. A complete guide to the new technical standards is also available through the SFDA's 'Mwasfah' portal, which outlines all requirements related to sodium labeling, caffeine disclosure, and calorie burn estimates. The SFDA says the move is part of its ongoing efforts to encourage healthier eating habits and reduce the burden of diet-related illnesses. It also urged restaurants and food providers to ensure full compliance to avoid penalties.
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Saudi Arabia rolls out new menu rules requiring salt, caffeine, and calorie burn labels
Saudi Arabia now requires all restaurants and delivery apps to label salt, caffeine, and calorie burn data on menus under new SFDA rules/Representative Image As part of its public health drive under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has begun enforcing new menu regulations requiring restaurants and cafes to display clear nutritional information on both physical and digital menus. The directive, issued by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), took effect on July 1, and applies to all dine-in establishments as well as food delivery apps. What the New Rules Require Under the updated technical standards, food outlets across the Kingdom must now: Display a saltshaker icon next to items high in sodium Disclose caffeine content in all beverages Show the estimated time required to burn off the calories for every menu item The SFDA stated: 'These measures are designed to help people monitor their intake of salt, sugar, and caffeine in line with global health recommendations.' This policy aims to make diners more aware of what they consume, especially as the country faces rising cases of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes. Health Context and Global Benchmarks The initiative comes amid growing concern over non-communicable diseases in Saudi Arabia, particularly those linked to poor dietary choices. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO): Recommended sodium intake: No more than 5g (one teaspoon) per day Safe caffeine limit: Up to 400mg/day for most adults and 200mg/day for pregnant women By requiring restaurants to flag these metrics, the SFDA hopes to enhance nutritional literacy and push the public toward healthier consumption habits. Tools and Compliance Measures To support implementation, the SFDA has launched several digital solutions, including: An online Caffeine Calculator to help users track daily caffeine intake by age and lifestyle The 'Mwasfah' portal, which provides a full breakdown of: Sodium labelling standards Caffeine content disclosure rules Calorie burn estimation formats The SFDA encouraged all food service providers to adhere to the new standards and warned of penalties for non-compliance. The authority emphasised that the new regulations are part of a broader goal to lower the national burden of diet-related illnesses through informed decision-making and menu transparency.
Gulf Insider
22-06-2025
- Health
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia To Enforce New Food Labelling Rules From July 1
Food establishments, restaurants, cafés, and delivery platforms in Saudi Arabia will be required to display comprehensive nutritional details on their menus, effective July 1, 2025. The new food labelling rules have been issued by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), as part of a national push to help consumers make healthier, more informed choices when dining out or ordering food online. Under the updated rules, all food establishments, restaurants, cafés, and delivery platforms, are mandated to display comprehensive nutritional details on their menus. This includes a saltshaker icon next to high-sodium meals, caffeine content disclosures for beverages, and an estimate of the physical activity needed to burn off the calories in each item. The requirements apply to both physical and digital menus. The food authority says the regulations aim to promote a balanced lifestyle and increase public awareness of sodium and caffeine intake in line with health recommendations by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which advises a maximum daily intake of 5 grams of salt (about one teaspoon), and no more than 400 mg of caffeine for adults, 200 mg for pregnant women. To assist both businesses and the public, the SFDA provides a free 'Caffeine Calculator' tool on its website: The full technical regulations, including details on labelling for high-salt items, caffeine levels, and physical activity equivalents can be accessed via the 'Mwasfah' platform: For more information, the SFDA can be reached at its unified call number: 19999.
Saudi Gazette
18-06-2025
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
SFDA's new food rules to be in force from July 1
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has announced the implementation of new technical regulations for food effective from July 1. These regulations are designed to enhance food transparency and provide consumers with comprehensive information when dining out, empowering them to make informed nutritional decisions. SFDA noted that starting July 1, 2025, food establishments will be mandated to display detailed nutritional information on their menus. This includes placing a 'saltshaker' label next to meals high in sodium as a clear guide, disclosing the caffeine content of beverages, and indicating the estimated time required to burn off the calories from a meal. These requirements apply to all menus, whether physical or online, and extend to online food ordering platforms. Through these initiatives, the SFDA aims to promote healthier food options, encourage a balanced lifestyle, and help consumers track their salt and caffeine intake in relation to approved health recommendations. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises adults to reduce sodium intake to no more than 5 grams of salt per day (equivalent to one teaspoon). For caffeine, the recommendation is not to exceed 400 mg per day for adults and 200 mg for pregnant women. To support compliance and consumer awareness, food establishments, including restaurants and cafes, and consumers can use the "Caffeine Calculator" available on the SFDA website: A copy of the approved technical regulations, which cover high-salt food labeling, caffeine content disclosure, and physical activity labeling, can be obtained from the "Mwasfah" online store: For technical inquiries or additional information, the SFDA can be reached via its unified call number 19999.
Leaders
28-02-2025
- Health
- Leaders
SFDA Introduces 3 New Regulations to Foster Healthy Community Nutrition
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has unveiled three new technical regulations aimed at enhancing public health and promoting healthier eating habits. These measures are in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and reinforce the SFDA's preventive strategies to boost life expectancy and lower the prevalence of chronic diseases. Set to take effect on July 1, 2025, the regulations will require out-of-home restaurants and cafes to implement Caffeine Content Disclosure, High Salt Content Labeling, and Physical Activity Calorie Burn Labeling on their menus. Caffeine Content Disclosure: Restaurants and cafes must clearly display the caffeine content in beverages on both paper and electronic menus, indicating milligrams per 100ml or per serving. A statement will also be included to inform consumers that the recommended daily caffeine limit for adults is 400mg. To assist the public, the SFDA has introduced an online caffeine calculator, accessible here. High Salt Content Labeling: Menu items containing more than 5 grams of salt (2,000mg sodium) must be marked with a 'Salt' icon on all menus, including electronic versions and online food ordering platforms. Additionally, this initiative seeks to increase awareness of high-sodium foods, curb excessive salt consumption, and prevent related health issues. Physical Activity Calorie Burn Labeling: Restaurants and cafes are required to display the amount of physical activity needed to burn the calories from menu items. This will be illustrated through icons showing the type of activity and the duration (in minutes or hours) required to offset the calorie intake. SFDA The SFDA emphasizes that these regulations are a continuation of the healthy food strategy launched in 2018, which focuses on improving public health, expanding access to healthier food options, and empowering consumers to make informed dietary decisions. Moreover, to ensure smooth implementation, the SFDA will work closely with the restaurant and cafe sector. Stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to review the approved technical regulations on the Mwasfah online store at Finally, for technical inquiries, the SFDA can be reached via its unified contact number: 19999. Related Topics : SFDA: Voluntary Recall Protects Consumers, Ensures Food Safety Is wheat harmful to the intestine? SFDA clarifies the truth King Saud University Medical City Conducts Rare Robotic Lung Surgery on Old Patient KSrelief Visits Colombia to Evaluate Implementation of Volunteer Medical Projects Short link : Post Views: 35
