{
  "id": 12381572,
  "title": "UAE sets up to Dh500,000 fine for food exceeding salt, sugar limits",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/uae-sets-up-to-dh500-000-fine-for-food-exceeding-salt-sugar-limits",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-06T13:08:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/uae/health/uae-sets-up-to-dh500000-fine-for-food-exceeding-salt-sugar-limits-1.500700497"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United Arab Emirates has introduced a resolution to cap sodium, sugar, and fat content in selected packaged foods, with food businesses given phased deadlines to comply by 2030. The Ministry of Health and Prevention announced this measure to safeguard public health and decrease obesity and other noncommunicable diseases associated with unhealthy food. The resolution applies to both locally produced and imported packaged foods as well as establishments handling them. Products solely intended for export are exempted unless traded within UAE. The limits are implemented in two phases, with upper bounds set per 100 grams of product. For leavened bread, the sodium limit is 444mg in the first phase and 370mg in the final phase, while sugar and fat caps are 6g and 8.4g, respectively. For flat bread, sodium is limited to 384mg in the first phase and 320mg in the final phase, with sugar and fat caps at 6g and 7g, respectively. Sweetened milk drinks, flatbreads, salty snacks, processed cheese, and other products have specific limits as well. Establishments must meet first-phase limits within nine months of the resolution's implementation for bread and up to two years and three months for processed cheese. The final limits must be attained by December 31, 2030. Products manufactured or imported before the resolution takes effect can remain on sale for up to one year or until their expiry date, whichever is earlier. Non-compliant products cannot be traded thereafter. Establishments may apply for exceptions if compliance requires cutting an ingredient by more than 20 percent. Violations can lead to warnings, fines of Dh5,000 to up to Dh500,000, closure of the establishment for up to six months, or cancellation of its licence or approval.",
  "summary": "The UAE has started implementing a resolution that caps sodium, sugar and fat in selected packaged foods, with food businesses given phased deadlines to comply through 2030, the Ministry of Health and Prevention said on Tuesday. The ministry said the measure aims to protect public health and reduce obesity and other noncommunicable diseases linked to unhealthy food. It sets a national framework…",
  "key_points": [
    "UAE imposes Dh500,000 fine for exceeding salt, sugar, fat limits in food.",
    "Limits set per 100g product for bread, flatbread, milk drinks, snacks.",
    "Non-compliant products face fines up to Dh500,000 and possible closure."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}