KSA dominates junk food market in GCC

Saudi Arabia produces and eats more junk food than any other country in the GCC.

A report from Doha-based Gulf Organization for Industrial Consultancy (GOIC) found that Saudi Arabia has invested $325 million in the production of processed foods such as potato crisps, chocolate and biscuits in 2005. The industry employs 265,000 people.

The rest of the GCC combined manufactured only a further $31 million of junk food.

The total processed snack food industry in the GCC is estimated to be worth $8.3 billion per year, the report found.

A joint study by the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSHRC) and the Ministry of Health reported in January that 45 percent of Saudi women and 23.5 of Saudi men are obese.

Dr. Yasmin Al Twaijiri, epidemiologist at KFSHRC and chairperson of the Saudi Women Scientist Committee, said the alarming rate of obesity indicates the need for an overall change of lifestyle trends as well as dietary habits among Saudis.

"As we became more affluent, we started importing processed food - food that come in boxes and cans that have a high amount of salt, cholesterol, trans fatty acids, as well as sugar. This increased consumption of junk foods has replaced more traditional homemade goodies," she said.

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