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29 March 2024

Abu Dhabi gets tough with school canteens

Abu Dhabi cracks down on unhealthy food and drinks sold in the emirate's schools. (FILE)

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By Staff

Abu Dhabi authorities have told school canteens not to sell nuts, chips and many other food items which are considered as not hygienic for students, the semi official daily al Ittihad reported on Monday.

The move is within a new government drive designed to ensure nutritious food for students following worrying reports about their health, it said.

A large list of "do not sell" food items welcomed school canteens as they reopened on Monday after a three-month summer break, it said.

The list includes chips, fried potato, nuts, sausage, shawarma, mortadella, ice cream, some types of chocolate, soft and energy drinks, flavoured water, sport drinks, ice tea and other kinds of beverages.

The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, which supervises school canteen services, also told them they must ensure food items which cause allergy must carry a warning about their effects. They include fish, coconuts, oysters, shrimps, other types of sea food, and some milk and wheat products.

"These measures are part of the emirate's new policy to spread good and healthy eating habits to curb obesity among children following reports that more than two thirds of the Emiratis are obese and one in every five persons suffers from diabetes," al Ittihad said.