Latest news with #SFDA
Gulf Insider
9 hours ago
- 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.
Filipino Times
16 hours ago
- Health
- Filipino Times
Saudi Arabia requires restaurants to display salt, caffeine, calorie info
Restaurants across Saudi Arabia are now required to display clear nutritional labels on their menus under new regulations issued by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). Effective July 1, 2025, the rules apply to both printed menus and digital platforms, including food delivery apps. The updated regulations mandate the use of a salt shaker icon to indicate high-salt meals and a label to disclose caffeine content in beverages. Saudi Arabia is now one of the first countries worldwide, and the first in the Arab region, to introduce strict regulations focused on reducing salt intake through better food transparency. Restaurants must also include a walking icon showing the estimated physical activity needed to burn off the calories in each dish. 'This vital regulation mandates the transparent disclosure of calorie information on menus, empowering consumers to make informed and healthier dietary choices,' the SFDA said. The move is part of efforts to address rising health concerns linked to poor diet, including high blood pressure and obesity.
Time of India
18 hours ago
- 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
5 days ago
- Gulf Insider
Saudi Arabia: SFDA Penalizes Food Safety Violators
The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has taken punitive measures against erring food establishments in various regions of Saudi Arabia. It affirmed zero tolerance for any violations affecting food safety. Inspection teams from SFDA, in coordination with relevant government agencies, detected a number of violations related to food safety and quality as part of their ongoing inspections of food establishments. This inspection aims to enhance proactive oversight and limit any practices that lead to contamination or food poisoning. The inspections resulted in the seizure of more than two tons of food of unknown origin, in addition to the destruction of approximately 200 kg of spoiled products unfit for human consumption. Large quantities of food stored in conditions that do not comply with health requirements and standards were also detected at a residential site run by expatriate workers. The workers were arrested and legal action was taken against them. In a related development, the SFDA halted production lines at a food factory after seizing approximately 150 kg of products of unknown origin. The inspection tours revealed several violations affecting product safety, including the possession of unknown raw materials and a clear decline in hygiene standards, which led to spreading of insects inside the raw materials warehouse, along with rust in food preparation equipment, the use of ineffective insect traps, and the presence of expired materials in the production hall. The emergency door was also found as a direct passage for workers to the production area, in violation of safe entry standards for food establishments. These measures are part of the precautionary oversight process aimed at protecting consumers and highlight the effectiveness of coordination and integration between relevant authorities in ensuring establishments' compliance with safety and quality standards. The authority reiterated that it has taken all necessary legal measures against violators, noting that violating the Food Law and its executive regulations is punishable by imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years or a fine of up to SR10 million, or both. The authority stressed its continued efforts to monitor food establishments' compliance with regulatory requirements, calling for reporting any violations via the unified number 19999.
Saudi Gazette
6 days ago
- Saudi Gazette
SFDA penalizes food safety violators
Saudi Gazette report RIYADH — The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has taken punitive measures against erring food establishments in various regions of Saudi Arabia. It affirmed zero tolerance for any violations affecting food safety. Inspection teams from SFDA, in coordination with relevant government agencies, detected a number of violations related to food safety and quality as part of their ongoing inspections of food establishments. This inspection aims to enhance proactive oversight and limit any practices that lead to contamination or food poisoning. The inspections resulted in the seizure of more than two tons of food of unknown origin, in addition to the destruction of approximately 200 kg of spoiled products unfit for human consumption. Large quantities of food stored in conditions that do not comply with health requirements and standards were also detected at a residential site run by expatriate workers. The workers were arrested and legal action was taken against them. In a related development, the SFDA halted production lines at a food factory after seizing approximately 150 kg of products of unknown origin. The inspection tours revealed several violations affecting product safety, including the possession of unknown raw materials and a clear decline in hygiene standards, which led to spreading of insects inside the raw materials warehouse, along with rust in food preparation equipment, the use of ineffective insect traps, and the presence of expired materials in the production hall. The emergency door was also found as a direct passage for workers to the production area, in violation of safe entry standards for food establishments. These measures are part of the precautionary oversight process aimed at protecting consumers and highlight the effectiveness of coordination and integration between relevant authorities in ensuring establishments' compliance with safety and quality standards. The authority reiterated that it has taken all necessary legal measures against violators, noting that violating the Food Law and its executive regulations is punishable by imprisonment for a period not exceeding ten years or a fine of up to SR10 million, or both. The authority stressed its continued efforts to monitor food establishments' compliance with regulatory requirements, calling for reporting any violations via the unified number 19999.
