Which Dubai hypermarket offers most healthy food options?

(Representational image)

Hypermarkets in Dubai are participating in a contest to raise awareness on healthy food purchasing options among customers, said Dubai Municipality officials.  
Under the theme 'Healthy is easy,' the Food Safety department this week launched the second phase of the 'Best Awareness Hypermarket Awards' to promote nutrition and healthy food options.  
"We aim to change the common idea that healthy food is expensive and not easy to find," said Shugufta M. Zubair, senior Food Safety Awareness Support Officer.  
Zubair noted changing purchasing habits is all it takes.
"While healthy food is accessible, we need to educate the public on purchasing the right food. The best way to do it is through hypermarkets as they are the first point of contact with consumers."  
Through the contest that will run until October 8, hypermarkets will focus their message on salt and saturated fats reduction through different forms including posters, leaflets or placing healthy food on a forefront display to make it more accessible to the public.  
Juhaina Hassan Al Ali, Principal Food Study and Survey Officer, said people consume high salt levels in their food without being aware.  
While the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends salt intake of less than five grams per day (equivalent to one teaspoon), Al Ali said that people consume five times more than level recommended.  
Al Ali said that talks are underway to introduce regulations that will decrease salt levels in food items.      
"Salt is in food items like bread, cereals and processed food but we do not know it."  
She added the campaign highlights the importance on reading food labels and choosing the right item.  
Participating hypermarkets include Lulu Group, Hyperpanda, Geant, Aswaq, Union Coop and Choithram. The overall winner will be announced in December based on overall performance in the campaign's two phases - the first focusing on food safety- by judges from three municipal teams.
Evaluation points include innovative approach and the number of outlets covered. sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai

Sherouk Zakaria

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com