06/04/2025
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06/04/2025
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KUWAIT CITY, April 6: The Technical Committee at the Municipal Council has referred to the executive authority the letter of Capital Governor Sheikh Abdullah Salem Al-Ali regarding the proposed mechanism on requiring restaurants and cafés to list the calorie contents of food and beverages. Kuwait Municipality is currently studying a mechanism to implement the proposal based on the guidelines attached to it.
Municipal sources revealed to the newspaper that work is underway to lay down the rules and regulations on the calories of meals and foods served in restaurants and cafés, in cooperation with the concerned government agencies, specifically the Food and Drug Administration. Sources said the regulations for implementing the proposed mechanism will have a positive impact on the quality of food services in Kuwait in general, and will contribute to promoting a healthy eating pattern for citizens and expatriates.
Sources disclosed the new mechanism will most likely be implemented in the Capital Governorate initially, and then gradually expand to the rest of the restaurants and cafés in the country. The newspaper obtained a copy of the guidelines for restaurants and cafés, upon which the Municipality based its study; including a mechanism for measuring calories in meals through laboratory analysis or by calculating the components of meals and drinks or calculating the calories of the ingredients such that each gram of protein is equal to four kilocalories, one gram of carbohydrates is equals four kilocalories, and one gram of fat equals nine kilocalories.
The guidelines stressed the need to display the calories of meals and drinks at the point where consumers select or purchase meals. This should be done in several locations like the checkout counter, electronic menu boards in restaurants, meal menus, drive-through food ordering areas, websites, and smart phone applications. The guidelines stipulate appropriate ways to make meals low in calories like adopting cooking methods that do not lead to an increase in calories by avoiding or minimizing frying when preparing meals; and using other methods such as baking, grilling or steaming, instead of frying.
By Inaas Awadh Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
