As part of its public health drive under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has begun enforcing new menu regulations requiring restaurants and cafes to display clear nutritional information on both physical and digital menus. The directive, issued by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), took effect on July 1, and applies to all dine-in establishments as well as food delivery apps.
What the New Rules Require
Under the updated technical standards, food outlets across the Kingdom must now:
- Display a saltshaker icon next to items high in sodium
- Disclose caffeine content in all beverages
- Show the estimated time required to burn off the calories for every menu item
The SFDA stated: “These measures are designed to help people monitor their intake of salt, sugar, and caffeine in line with global health recommendations.” This policy aims to make diners more aware of what they consume, especially as the country faces rising cases of obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
Health Context and Global Benchmarks
The initiative comes amid growing concern over non-communicable diseases in Saudi Arabia, particularly those linked to poor dietary choices. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO):
- Recommended sodium intake: No more than 5g (one teaspoon) per day
- Safe caffeine limit: Up to 400mg/day for most adults and 200mg/day for pregnant women
By requiring restaurants to flag these metrics, the SFDA hopes to enhance nutritional literacy and push the public toward healthier consumption habits.
Tools and Compliance Measures
To support implementation, the SFDA has launched several digital solutions, including:
- An online
Caffeine Calculator to help users track daily caffeine intake by age and lifestyle - The “Mwasfah” portal, which provides a full breakdown of:
- Sodium labelling standards
- Caffeine content disclosure rules
- Calorie burn estimation formats
The SFDA encouraged all food service providers to adhere to the new standards and warned of penalties for non-compliance. The authority emphasised that the new regulations are part of a broader goal to lower the national burden of diet-related illnesses through informed decision-making and menu transparency.
