Business | General

Bread prices, specifications in UAE to be adjusted

Bread will be sold by the kilogram and the moisture content of the dough will be regulated starting in October

  • By Zaher Bitar, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 September 7, 2010
  • Gulf News

Bread
  • Image Credit: Supplied
  • Bread and rolls are the No. 1 source of salt in the American diet, accounting for more than twice as much sodium as salty junk food like potato chips

Dubai: Bread will cost Dh2.50 per kilogram from next month, significantly lower than the current price, a senior government official has told Gulf News.

A team from the Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy will rigorously monitor bread quality and prices, said Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi, the department's director.

Bread is usually sold by the loaf, with prices starting from Dh2. However, from October consumers will get more bread for each dirham.

"Bread specifications and prices will be adjusted to a healthier standard, and bread will be sold by the kilogram throughout the UAE," Dr Al Nuaimi said.

The Cabinet has instructed the Emirates Standard and Specification Authority to grant bakeries a grace period in which they will be allowed to adjust to meet the new specifications, he said.

"We have informed all the bakeries about the required standards in terms of moisture, dough and weight," Dr Al Nuaimi added.

Consumer rights

This, he said, would ensure that consumers would be able to buy good quality bread at a more affordable price.

Previously, the moisture content of bread had not been standardised, with the result that its shelf life was limited.

Unscrupulous bakeries sometimes increase the amount of water in the dough to artificially increase its weight.

However, the new rules will curb these illegal practices and protect the rights of consumers.

The ministry has readied a team that will ensure compliance from October, Dr Al Nuaimi said.

Comments (4)

  1. Added 14:05 September 7, 2010

    Wonderful news! Glad to note that the Consumer Protection Dept is closely monitoring the price of bread. The large labor population will benefit tremendously from subsidized prices. We hope the prices of rice and lentils will be monitored as well

    shahid anwar, abu dhabi, United Arab Emirates

  2. Added 11:02 September 7, 2010

    This a wonderful news to all of us consumers, if not much to ask would you mind look into regulating not only bread but all basic food items like rice, fish (UAE have a long costline why sea produce are so expensive) milk and etc.

    Jhel Villaruel, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

  3. Added 11:01 September 7, 2010

    Well sounds good but.... Remember when petrol sale & pricing was changed from per Gallon to per litre? Now everytime the price of a litre of petrol is increased by 0.20 the gallon goes up by almost a Dirham..

    Raj, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

  4. Added 09:42 September 7, 2010

    Wonderful news! Glad to note that the Consumer Protection Dept is closely monitoring the price of bread. The large labor population will benefit tremendously from subsidized prices. We hope the prices of rice and lentils will be monitored as well.

    C.L., Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

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