Abu Dhabi: Are you aware of the ingredients of the food items you consume everyday? Does your food contain enough nutrients and other essential elements?
Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) is planning to ask these questions to consumers who are adopting life style changes as part of a plan to ensure food safety, told senior official told Gulf News.
The scientific committee of the ADFCA made this recommendation last week based on World Health Organisation's (WHO) ‘Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health', Mohammad Jalal Al Reyaysa, Director of Information and Communication Department at ADFCA said.
Every year, 2.7 million people die worldwide due to low fruit and vegetable intake and 1.9 million people die due to lack of physical activity, according to WHO.
He said since ADFCA's mandate is limited to food safety, it will co-ordinate with other authorities like Health Authority — Abu Dhabi to work towards life style changes amongst consumers.
"ADFCA will highlight the importance of knowing what you eat," Al Reyaysa said.
Food labels
Everyone should develop the habit of reading the food label of packed food items to know the ingredients, he added. "Accordingly you can control your diet. That will help you to ensure that your food items include essential nutrition," the official explained. The committee has asked ADFCA to consider a front-of-pack labelling approach (GDA or guideline on daily amounts) as a means for raising consumer awareness in understanding labels and promoting healthy choices, especially for food prepared in catering facilities, hospitals and schools.
ADFCA worked in coordination with relevant local and federal agencies, that gather food consumption data, in compiling the diet study, Al Reyaysa said. One of the major proposals from the committee concerns risk profiling, a practical tool that will assist in building an evidence base for regulatory standards, that can be used in the future he added.
Pact: UAE and Irish food authorities join force
ADFCA and the Ireland Food Safety Authority signed a Memorandum of Understanding this week at the 8th meeting of the Scientific Committee of ADEFA.
The agreement outlines several areas of planned cooperation between the two food safety agencies, such as training, research and surveillance practices, communication strategies and awareness programmes, IT exchanges, food safety and inspection systems.
