Dubai Municipality's initiative is to oblige food establishments to be fully transparent.
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ll Dubai food establishments will soon have to disclose a calorie content on their menus, the Dubai Municipality (DM) has announced. While nutritionists and restaurant owners have welcomed the move, some have expressed concerns over it affecting their business.

The measures taken by the DM are to ensure customers are aware of the nutritional values they are taking in whenever they eat at restaurants in the emirate. The DM will be the first local authority in the country to do so.

Dawoud Al Hajri, director-general of the DM, said: "The municipality's initiative is to oblige food establishments to be fully transparent in declaring calories on all foods, in order to give consumers the ability to choose food that suits their health status. It is an innovative programme, through which the municipality will encourage restaurants to provide healthy and tasty meals to consumers and help achieve the DM's vision of developing a happy and sustainable city."

He added that this initiative comes amid the increasing pace of life, where consumers resort to unhealthy food choices due to their availability and accessibility.

"It is also due to the keenness of the municipality to encourage food establishments to provide balanced and healthy meals; enhance the health of the community; and contribute to protecting people against diseases caused by unhealthy meals," said Al Hajri.