Calorie labelling delay a ‘recipe for obesity’

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Efforts to enforce calorie labelling on restaurant menus and food products in Bahrain have been held up for years, sparking renewed calls to revive the measure and address the growing issue of obesity, particularly among teenagers.

Approved in 2018 with plans for implementation by January 2019, the initiative stalled due to the lack of a unified calculation method and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many frustrated at the delay.

Ahmed Al Salloom, head of the Strategic Thinking Bloc and chairman of the Parliamentary Financial and Economic Affairs Committee, has called for the task to be handed to a private company.

“A specialised organisation could handle inspections and certification at a reasonable cost,” he said, suggesting that implementation could be delayed until December 2025 to give authorities time to get it right.

Shura Council member Dr Bassam Al Benmohamed has urged authorities to make nutritional information more accessible, saying the current Gulf technical regulations are outdated and insufficient.

“We need to step up efforts to inform consumers about the food they’re eating, as this plays a key role in improving health and safety,” he said.

Dr Al Benmohamed pointed to Abu Dhabi’s food labelling system and Saudi Arabia’s calorie disclosure rules for restaurants as examples Bahrain could follow, adding, “These approaches have already shown their worth in improving public health.”

The Ministry of Health defended its position, citing ongoing inspections to ensure food safety and compliance with regional standards.

Products made locally or imported are tested in laboratories, it said, to verify they meet health requirements.

However, Dr Al Benmohamed argued that Bahrain must move beyond basic compliance and embrace clearer labelling systems that meet the growing demand for better health education.

By contrast, Saudi Arabia has successfully enforced calorie labelling, even shutting down restaurants that failed to comply.

Bahrain’s initial plan in 2018 set a high standard but never came to fruition, leaving the public without access to much-needed nutritional information.

Khalid Ali Al Ameen, chair of the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Food Sector Committee, threw his support behind the idea, describing calorie labelling as a key step in building trust between restaurants and diners.

“People deserve to know what they’re eating so they can make choices that suit their health. This is about showing respect for your customers,” he said.