Rethinking Front-of-Pack Labelling: Is Nutri-Mark the Right Choice for Abu Dhabi?

By Anshu Gupta | Director, Public Policy and Public Affairs at APCO

ABU DHABI / GULF TIME

First introduced in October 2024, Abu Dhabi’s Nutri-Mark initiative – an ambitious front-of-pack labeling (FOPL) system designed to empower consumers to make healthier food choices – is now nearing its implementation deadline of 1 June 2025. Modeled on the European Nutri-Score system, Nutri-Mark grades packaged foods from ‘A’ (healthiest) to ‘E’ (least healthy), using color codes to make nutrition information more accessible at a glance.
The ambition behind Nutri-Mark is commendable and aligned with broader public health goals. However, its rollout warrants a closer look at international experiences. These include the European Union’s engagement with Nutri-Score – a similar labeling scheme – and local considerations, such as the UAE’s voluntary Traffic Light FOPL system at the federal level.
These insights suggest that a pause or recalibration at this stage could ensure a more impactful, sustainable launch.
While Nutri-Score initially gained traction across Europe, it has since faced growing challenges. France, the country that originally championed Nutri-Score, recently reassessed its endorsement amid concerns that the algorithm oversimplified nutritional values, disadvantaged culturally significant foods, and failed to reflect holistic dietary patterns. Italy, Greece, and other countries have voiced similar reservations.
These developments underscore an important lesson: even well-intentioned policies can become polarizing when they do not sufficiently account for scientific nuance, cultural diversity, and broad stakeholder consensus.

Abu Dhabi’s Strategic ConsiderationsNutri-Mark aims to support healthier consumption habits in Abu Dhabi, a goal that is both urgent and commendable given rising rates of diet-related conditions. However, for a front-of-pack labeling scheme to be successful, it must be carefully designed to ensure credibility, inclusivity, and relevance to the local context. Key considerations include:

• Scientific Integrity: Oversimplified scoring systems risk distorting the actual nutritional value of foods, particularly those naturally rich in healthy fats, proteins, or traditional ingredients. Lessons from Nutri-Score’s limitations should guide the development of more robust, scientifically sound methodology.

• Cultural Relevance: The UAE’s diverse dietary traditions should be respected and reflected. Penalizing local, traditional, or culturally meaningful foods could inadvertently alienate consumers and hinder adoption.

• Economic Impact: The cost of reformulating products and adapting labels could burden SMEs and local manufacturers disproportionately. In a highly competitive market, these pressures could affect business viability, innovation, and supply chain stability.
• Trade Barriers: Without harmonization with global labeling standards, Nutri-Mark could pose unintended barriers to trade. Inconsistent requirements across domestic and export markets could lead to increased regulatory complexity, elevated compliance costs, and limited market access – ultimately undermining the competitiveness of UAE-based food producers and exporters.

• Regulatory Coherence and Harmonization: For Nutri-Mark to achieve its intended public health impact, it must be implemented in alignment with existing national frameworks – particularly the UAE’s voluntary Traffic Light FOPL system. A lack of coherence at the federal and emirate levels could create regulatory fragmentation, stakeholder confusion, and uneven enforcement. Additionally, without regional and international harmonization, the introduction of Nutri-Mark in Abu Dhabi could lead to unintended trade frictions and increased compliance burdens for food manufacturers operating across borders. Strategic alignment is therefore essential to ensure both the credibility of the system and its long-term sustainability within a competitive, globalized food ecosystem.

• Global Context: With France now re-evaluating Nutri-Score and no unified EU policy in place, Abu Dhabi may wish to pause and assess whether this is the optimal moment – or model – for implementation. Evaluating the global context and potential regulatory conflicts could help avoid missteps and ensure the system’s long-term success.

With the June 2025 deadline approaching, it is critical to rethink and refine Nutri-Mark’s design through wider consultation, scientific validation, and strategic alignment. Rather than moving forward with a model now under re-evaluation in its region of origin, Abu Dhabi has the opportunity to set a higher standard by embracing a more consultative, evidence-driven approach.

Key steps include:

• Adopting an evidence-based approach grounded in scientific rigor.
• Engaging local and regional nutrition experts, industry stakeholders – including SMEs and consumer advocacy groups through a focused consultation process.

• Ensuring the labeling model supports traditional and wholesome foods while avoiding the unintended discouragement of culturally important choices.
• Aligning regulatory frameworks across the UAE and wider GCC region to enable seamless trade and enhance competitiveness – ultimately strengthening UAE’s regional leadership.

Front of pack nutrition labeling is a powerful tool to empower consumers to make healthier choices – but it must be deployed thoughtfully. By taking a deliberate, inclusive, and evidence-based approach, Abu Dhabi can set a new global benchmark for effective, culturally relevant front-of-pack labeling.
To succeed, the front of pack labelling system must be not only scientifically sound and aligned with international best practices, but also locally relevant, economically feasible, and socially embraced. With such a strategic and inclusive approach, Abu Dhabi could shape a healthier future – setting a benchmark for the region and beyond.