The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has unveiled three new technical regulations aimed at enhancing public health and promoting healthier eating habits. These measures are in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and reinforce the SFDA’s preventive strategies to boost life expectancy and lower the prevalence of chronic diseases.
Set to take effect on July 1, 2025, the regulations will require out-of-home restaurants and cafes to implement Caffeine Content Disclosure, High Salt Content Labeling, and Physical Activity Calorie Burn Labeling on their menus.
- Caffeine Content Disclosure: Restaurants and cafes must clearly display the caffeine content in beverages on both paper and electronic menus, indicating milligrams per 100ml or per serving. A statement will also be included to inform consumers that the recommended daily caffeine limit for adults is 400mg. To assist the public, the SFDA has introduced an online caffeine calculator, accessible here.
- High Salt Content Labeling: Menu items containing more than 5 grams of salt (2,000mg sodium) must be marked with a “Salt” icon on all menus, including electronic versions and online food ordering platforms. Additionally, this initiative seeks to increase awareness of high-sodium foods, curb excessive salt consumption, and prevent related health issues.
- Physical Activity Calorie Burn Labeling: Restaurants and cafes are required to display the amount of physical activity needed to burn the calories from menu items. This will be illustrated through icons showing the type of activity and the duration (in minutes or hours) required to offset the calorie intake.
SFDA
The SFDA emphasizes that these regulations are a continuation of the healthy food strategy launched in 2018, which focuses on improving public health, expanding access to healthier food options, and empowering consumers to make informed dietary decisions.
Moreover, to ensure smooth implementation, the SFDA will work closely with the restaurant and cafe sector. Stakeholders and interested parties are encouraged to review the approved technical regulations on the Mwasfah online store at https://mwasfah.sfda.gov.sa/Home.
Finally, for technical inquiries, the SFDA can be reached via its unified contact number: 19999.
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