Unhealthy snacks and drinks are disappearing from supermarket ‘temptation zones’ such as entrances, aisle ends and checkout areas, as customers welcome the shift.
At the checkout area of a Carrefour branch in Abu Dhabi, the shelves once filled with chocolates and chewing gum near the queue have disappeared.
The change is part of a wider effort under the Abu Dhabi Healthy Living programme, which requires supermarkets across the emirate to remove unhealthy food and beverage products from ‘high-traffic zones’. These areas include store entrances, aisle ends and checkout counters, where shoppers are more likely to make impulse purchases.
The ‘temptation zones’
These three areas are among the most valuable spaces in a supermarket, often positioned to maximise visibility and encourage impulse purchases from shoppers.
Rawdha Mohammed, an Omani resident, said the move could influence more than just shopping patterns — it could also help families develop healthier habits.
“It’s an excellent, healthy step that will change many habits for us and our children, especially impulse buying at the counter,” she said. “The checkout area is a temptation zone where we often pick up items with little nutritional value simply to pass the waiting time.”
Omaima Saleh, a Jordanian resident, said the supermarket entrance was the area that concerned her most, as promotional displays of unhealthy products often influenced buying decisions.
“Unhealthy products at the supermarket entrance always bothered me, especially those tempting promotional bundles. They distract you from what you actually need,” she said. “What I saw at Carrefour was wonderful. Placing healthier products at the front will encourage people to think before making purchases.”
For Emirati resident Mansour Alhashmi, the change also has a financial impact on families. “We are a family of more than nine, so I carefully consider what I buy. What makes me happiest is seeing sweets disappear from checkout areas. When you are shopping for several children, the cost adds up, and the health impact is even greater,” he said.
Labels helping reshape choices
The changes are not limited to supermarket layouts. Packaged food products are increasingly displaying the Nutri-Mark label, a front-of-pack rating system that grades products from A, indicating the highest nutritional value, to E, the lowest.
Egyptian resident Jamal Abdulaziz said the labels have influenced his shopping choices. “The labels encouraged me to replace some products after I noticed their sugar and hydrogenated oil levels. I never used to pay attention before, and many of those items were part of my daily routine — chocolates, chips and juices. I still enjoy them, but my long-term health matters more,” he said.
Emirati resident Maha Ahmed said the TAMM app has helped shoppers identify healthier options, especially for products without Nutri-Mark labels.
“I use the TAMM app, and it helps a lot, particularly with products that do not yet carry labels, because it classifies food items for you. I hope the initiative eventually expands beyond food to include childcare, body care and skincare products,” she said.
Observed the changes at a Carrefour branch in Abu Dhabi, while social media updates indicate that the retailer is gradually implementing the directive across its stores in coordination with relevant authorities.
The move forms part of Abu Dhabi’s broader health strategy, which includes measures such as restrictions on fast-food advertising and improved standards for school meals. The approach focuses on creating a healthier environment for consumers while allowing them to make their own choices.
