Abu Dhabi approves new healthy eating guide for schools

A new guide designed to encourage healthy eating in schools in Abu Dhabi has been approved by the emirate's food control authority, officials said on Sunday.

In co-operation with Abu Dhabi Health Authority and Abu Dhabi Educational Council, it has certified a new guide for school canteens for the new school year 2011 to 2012.

The guide uses a traffic light system to advise on the most nutritional foods, with red signifying those foods that are banned and green for those that are allowed.

Those with the yellow code are allowed under certain conditions, such as the amount to be served, or the kind of oil that is used.

Dubai authorities in May said they had issued new guidelines to schools in an effort to ban unhealthy foods.

Dubai Health Authority and Dubai Municipality (DM) said new school canteen guidelines would maintain the health and safety of students as well as encourage them to follow healthy eating habits.

Mohamed Abdulla Al Fardan, deputy director of Communication and Community Service at ADFCA, said: "The new guide comes in the context of seeking to achieve a safe and integrated food environment for our students, in collaboration with the relevant government institutions, to protect them from health related risks and guide them to the correct nutritional practices that will benefit them physically and mentally.

"The guide is based on the best and the latest scientific references available locally and internationally and aimed to serve the suppliers of products as well as the nutrition officials and administrators in schools," he added.

Al Fardan said inspections would take place to ensure all school canteens, restaurants and suppliers of food for schools "meet the requirements put by ADFCA as well as ensuring their commitment to the rules and regulations".