Abu Dhabi’s new A-to-E Nutri-Mark packaging labels help shoppers easily scan food products

UAE – Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council has launched Nutri-Mark, a front-of-pack nutrition labeling system that grades packaged food products from A (highest nutritional value) to E (lowest), with color-coded labels displayed on shelves across four major retail chains.

The initiative, first of its kind in the Middle East region, follows agreements between the Council and four major retail chains that will exclusively implement the system on their packaged products. 

Each grade is assigned a distinct color based on factors including fat, salt, fiber content, ingredients and overall nutritional value. 

Engineer Abdullah Hassan Al Maeeni, Executive Director of the Central Testing Laboratory Sector at QCC, explained that Nutri-Mark is a science-based front-of-pack nutrition labeling system enabling consumers to compare the nutritional value of similar products through a simple assessment method. 

He noted that the initiative is built on three pillars: health (enhancing nutritional awareness and preventing diseases), quality (providing transparent standards for product classification), and technology (empowering consumers through digital solutions). 

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Al Maeeni stated that Nutri-Mark compares the nutritional value of similar products and classifies them from Grade A to Grade E. 

He emphasized that partnerships with major retail chains are strategically important for the initiative’s success, as these retailers reach a broad consumer base across Abu Dhabi and the UAE, ensuring widespread visibility of the label. 

Adoption by retailers also encourages suppliers and manufacturers to comply with the system, either by displaying the label or improving their products to achieve higher ratings. Al Maeeni added that the initiative has already begun influencing manufacturers. 

Although the system is not yet mandatory, several international companies have modified their products after receiving Nutri-Mark evaluations. 

International experiences with similar systems have reported at least a 10 percent improvement in the nutritional quality of products selected by consumers.

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According to available data, 20.7 percent of adults aged 20 years and above in the UAE are living with diabetes, with the figure projected to rise to 23 percent by 2050. 

Al Maeeni noted that modern lifestyles characterized by physical inactivity and poor dietary choices had contributed to an increase in chronic diseases. 

He stressed that Nutri-Mark simplifies complex nutritional information and helps consumers better understand the health implications of food products at the moment of purchase. 

Dr. Ahmed Al Khazraji, Executive Director of the Healthy Lifestyle Sector at the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre, described Nutri-Mark as a promising development for preventive healthcare.

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