The TAMM app integration allows consumers to scan Nutri-Mark labels and receive instant health insights.
The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council) has stated that the new Nutri-Mark initiative allows consumers to instantly view clear nutritional information by scanning a QR code on products across participating retail outlets.
The initiative follows agreements signed between the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council) and four major retail chains, which will be the first to exclusively adopt the nutritional labelling system on their products. By providing nutritional information at the point of purchase, the initiative is expected to promote healthier eating habits and enable consumers to make quicker, more informed food choices.
The Nutri-Mark initiative, the first of its kind in the region, was launched by the QCC in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre). It introduces a front-of-pack nutrition labelling system aimed at empowering consumers to make healthier and more informed dietary decisions.
He noted that the initiative is built on three key pillars:
Health: Enhancing nutritional awareness and supporting disease prevention by guiding consumers toward healthier food choices.
Quality: Ensuring transparent, accurate, and standardised product classification based on clear nutritional criteria.
Technology: Leveraging digital tools and smart solutions to make nutritional information easily accessible and understandable for all consumers.
Al Maeeni explained that Nutri-Mark compares the nutritional value of similar products and rates them from Grade A, indicating the highest nutritional value, to Grade E, indicating the lowest. Each grade is represented by a distinct color and is determined based on factors such as fat, salt, fibre content, ingredients, and overall nutritional value.
He highlighted that partnerships with major retail chains are crucial to the initiative’s success, as these retailers serve a wide consumer base across Abu Dhabi and the UAE, ensuring strong visibility of the Nutri-Mark label. Their participation also encourages suppliers and manufacturers to comply with the system, either by adopting the label or reformulating products to achieve better ratings.
The initiative also gains credibility through its association with well-established retail brands, which helps consumers make healthier purchasing decisions and ultimately supports improvements in quality of life and public health.
Rising diabetes rates in the UAE
Engineer Abdullah Hassan Al Maeeni noted that modern lifestyles marked by low physical activity and unhealthy dietary habits have contributed to a rise in chronic, non-communicable diseases, replacing communicable diseases as the primary health burden.
He added that available data shows 20.7% of adults aged 20 and above in the UAE are living with diabetes, with projections suggesting this could increase to 23% by 2050. The incidence of diabetes is also growing among younger age groups.
He emphasized that Nutri-Mark simplifies complex nutritional information, helping consumers better understand the health impact of food products and make more informed, healthier dietary choices. In the long term, the initiative is expected to strengthen preventive healthcare outcomes and reduce nutrition-related diseases.
Supporting the UAE’s long-term health objectives
Engineer Abdullah Hassan Al Maeeni stated that Nutri-Mark is designed to enhance consumer confidence, improve brand image, boost market competitiveness, and encourage better product offerings, while also supporting the UAE’s broader long-term public health goals.
He added that businesses can support the initiative by displaying and promoting the label on their products. In return, Nutri-Mark-certified products gain a competitive advantage in an increasingly health-conscious market that values transparency and nutritional quality.
Awareness efforts are supported through multiple channels, including digital platforms such as the TAMM application and social media, which provide interactive and easy-to-understand guidance on how to interpret the labels.
Al Maeeni noted that the initiative has already begun influencing manufacturers. Although participation is still voluntary, several international companies have reformulated products after receiving Nutri-Mark evaluations, indicating its potential as a preventive public health tool.
He added that the Council has received highly positive feedback via social media since the launch. International case studies also show encouraging results, with similar labelling systems leading to at least a 10% improvement in the nutritional quality of consumer food choices, underscoring its role in driving long-term behavioural change that benefits both public health and the wider economy.
The nutritional assessments are based on internationally recognised scientific research in nutrition and public health. The Council also plans to carry out regular random inspections to verify product data and ensure the accuracy of nutritional classifications.
A promising step for preventive healthcare
Dr. Ahmed Al Khazraji of the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre described Nutri-Mark as a promising advancement in preventive healthcare.
“We believe it will help promote healthier lifestyles and reduce the prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and other nutrition-related diseases,” he said.
He explained that the initiative supports a wide range of community groups, especially children, senior citizens, and people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease, who need clear and reliable nutritional information. It also serves as an important tool for parents seeking healthier food choices for their children amid the growing availability of processed and packaged foods.
Healthy adults and young people can also benefit by building long-term nutritional awareness and reducing future health risks through better everyday food decisions.
TAMM application enhances accessibility
Aisha Al Marzouqi stated that the TAMM application makes Nutri-Mark easily accessible with a single click, similar to other government services, encouraging wider adoption across all segments of society.
She emphasized that technology is no longer optional but a necessity, and that expanding its use across sectors, including preventive healthcare, remains a national priority for the UAE.
This initiative reflects a practical model of integration between innovation and quality, supporting the Abu Dhabi Government’s vision of building a healthier and more sustainable society. Technology acts as a powerful tool to encourage informed food choices by delivering clear, accurate nutritional information instantly.
Society’s growing preference for digital solutions
Aisha Al Marzouqi noted that everyday behaviour shows a growing preference for digital solutions due to their convenience, speed, and transparency, making them effective tools for spreading nutritional awareness and embedding it into daily habits.
Through the TAMM application, consumers can instantly access Nutri-Mark data by scanning or photographing product labels. The app then displays the product’s rating from Grade A (highest nutritional value) to Grade E (lowest), along with detailed nutritional information, consumption guidance, and alerts for sensitive groups such as children and people with diabetes.
The role of smart solutions and digital data
Aisha Al Marzouqi emphasized that smart solutions and digital data play a crucial role in shifting consumers from passive recipients of information to active, informed decision-makers.
She noted that the initiative not only provides information but also simplifies it visually through colors and symbols, making it accessible to all segments of society.
She added that integrating Nutri-Mark into smart government platforms such as the TAMM enhances institutional transparency. Government applications are trusted because they do not promote specific products or private interests; instead, they present a unified national standard based on scientific evidence and strict regulatory oversight.
This ensures consumers receive accurate, impartial, and standardised information across products, while also improving accessibility and supporting long-term sustainability of the initiative.
Combating malnutrition and poor dietary habits
Dr. Ahmed Al Khazraji explained that modern malnutrition is often not linked to food scarcity, but rather to the overconsumption of foods with low nutritional value. He described this as one of the most pressing health challenges driven by current dietary habits in Abu Dhabi.
He stressed that Nutri-Mark is expected to play a key role in raising awareness about the importance of choosing products with higher nutritional value.
From the Centre’s perspective, partnerships with commercial entities are essential to the success of the initiative, as they ensure consumers see the label at the point of purchase. In this context, retailers act not only as implementation partners but also as a vital bridge between public health policies and everyday consumer behaviour.
Such collaborations also encourage manufacturers to reformulate products to make them healthier, thereby supporting the objectives of the UAE’s preventive health agenda.
What is the Nutri-Mark Initiative?
Nutri-Mark is the first-of-its-kind nutrition labelling system in the region, designed to help consumers identify healthier food options through a simplified front-of-pack nutrition label.
The initiative has been launched exclusively through four major retail outlets in Abu Dhabi.
Key facts about the initiative
Supervising authorities:
The initiative is a joint effort between the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council) and the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre).
Purpose of the label:
It provides a simple, easy-to-read nutritional rating that complements the mandatory detailed nutrition information already displayed on the back of food packaging.
Retail availability
Products carrying the Nutri-Mark label are currently available exclusively through four major retail outlets in Abu Dhabi.
For more information about the system and product ratings, consumers can visit the official website of the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council).
