Despite running a multitude of programmes to ensure the health of its citizens, Qatar still has an alarming number of people who are unhealthy and obese.

The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) and the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), in a bid to tackle the issue, have started a new initiative that will make it mandatory for data on food and beverages to be prominently displayed by stores, reported Gulf Times.

This is expected to enable consumers to choose meals with the calorie intake that corresponds to their daily activities.

Shops selling food, meals and beverages should comply with two sets of obligations. The first set includes general obligations that apply to all restaurants, cafes and similar shops, regarding the presentation of mandatory data on food, meals and beverages.

The second set of obligations applies only to shops with international networks, under the franchising system, and includes the display of calorie count of meals and beverages offered to consumers, reported Qatar Tribune.

Obligations applicable to all restaurants and cafes

The general obligations applicable to all restaurants, traditional food outlets, cafes and cafeterias involve the display of mandatory data related to food and meals, which include, among other labels, the type of meal and country of origin (the country of production of the commodity) in the description of food components provided to consumers, whether the meal consists of meat, chicken, fish or others.

The data should also include a description of the condition of the ingredients such as if the meat, chicken and fish are fresh, refrigerated or frozen. It is also mandatory to clearly display the weight of main meat, chicken and fish meals.

The circular stipulates that data should be prominently displayed to enable consumers to read it in full clarity and to exercise their right to choose the food with the calorie count and ingredients that are in line with their aspirations and the nature of their daily activity.

Need to indicate the weights of meat of all kinds

The circular stipulates consumers should be provided with the weight of meat, poultry or fish meals provided as the main meal. The indicated weight should be taken after the meal is cooked or grilled when it comes to take away or in-house meals. Only shops that display meat, fish or other sea food for customers to choose from before cooking are allowed to weigh food before it is cooked or grilled.

For the purpose of verifying weights, the circular compels the shops concerned to provide a calibrated balance by the competent authorities at the Qatar General Authority for Standardisation and Metrology.

Franchises 

In addition to the above, the circular outlines the obligations of cafes, restaurants, cinemas, theatres and ice cream shops under the franchising system. These shops are required to display the calorie count of the meals and beverages they offer to consumers. 

The circular outlines four criteria to identify shops that are required to display calorie count (energy) data.

First, the cafe, restaurant or shop should be part of a multinational franchise defined above; and second, the franchise should involve more than five branches except when it comes to movie theatres that are required to display the calorie count regardless of the number of branches.

Thirdly, branches must bear the same name, while the fourth criterion stipulates that all branches must adopt a single or similar menu.

Implementation over two phases

With regard to the deadlines set for restaurants, cafes and similar shops to adjust their status, the ministry indicated that the procedures included in the circular should be implemented in two stages, a pilot phase and a mandatory second stage.

The pilot phase will extend over six months starting today, during which the ministry will co-ordinate with the owners of restaurants, cafes and similar outlets to adjust their status by including data relating to the country of origin, weight and the ingredients of food and beverage on menus offered to consumers. 

The ministry will also co-ordinate with restaurants, cafes, theatres, cinemas and ice cream shops with a global network under the franchising system to include data on calories according to the specified methods.

After the completion of the pilot phase, shops that fall under the MEC’s circular will participate in the mandatory phase starting on December 10.