Abu Dhabi has launched Nutri-Mark, a front-of-pack nutrition labelling system designed to help consumers compare the nutritional value of packaged food products at the point of purchase.
The system, introduced by Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council, grades packaged food products from A to E, with A representing the highest nutritional value and E the lowest. Each grade is linked to a colour-coded label displayed on retail shelves, allowing shoppers to compare similar products more quickly.
Nutri-Mark assesses products based on factors including fat, salt, fibre content, ingredients and overall nutritional value. The Council said the system aims to simplify complex nutritional information and support more informed consumer choices.
Engineer Abdullah Hassan Al Maeeni, Executive Director of the Central Testing Laboratory Sector at QCC, said Nutri-Mark is a science-based front-of-pack nutrition labelling system that enables consumers to compare similar products through a simple assessment method.
He said the initiative is built on three pillars: health, by enhancing nutritional awareness and supporting disease prevention; quality, by providing transparent product classification standards; and technology, by empowering consumers through digital solutions.
The system is being rolled out through agreements between QCC and four major retail chains, which will implement Nutri-Mark on packaged products sold through their outlets. The Council said retailer participation is important because it gives the label wider visibility across Abu Dhabi and the UAE.
Although the system is not yet mandatory, QCC said some international companies have already modified products after receiving Nutri-Mark evaluations. Retail adoption is also expected to encourage suppliers and manufacturers to display the label or improve product formulations to achieve higher ratings.
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.
The launch places front-of-pack labelling at the centre of Abu Dhabi’s wider efforts to link packaging, retail visibility and public health communication, while giving food manufacturers a clearer framework for product transparency.