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School Canteen Food Must Bear Nutritional Value Label

ABU DHABI - The Health Authority-Abu Dhabi (HAAD) revised in May its school health guidelines for canteens and physical activities for school children.

The new guidelines issued to food catering companies require canteens to follow clear labelling and detailing of the nutritional value of each meal. “The authority is also developing guidelines on weight maintenance or loss,” said Dr Jennifer Moore, section head of Family and School Health at HAAD.

“Once approved, the guidelines will be rolled out to the clinical staff in obesity clinics in all PHCs.” HAAD also offers help to those with a BMI (body mass index) of more than 85 and helps in behaviour modification, offers diagnostic tests, diet charts and guidelines on physical activity.

Meanwhile, preliminary findings of an ongoing Knowledge, Attitude, Perception and Behaviour (KAPB) study in HAAD reveals that a change of perception is much needed. An abstract of an ongoing study indicates false perceptions, such as ‘Weight gain and diabetes are a normal ageing process’ and ‘What you do when you are young, does not relate to illness in older age’.