🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Mandates Menu Makeover: Salt, Caffeine, and Calorie Burn Must Be Disclosed
Saudi Arabia just dropped a health bombshell on restaurants — and it's about to change the way people order food.
As part of an aggressive push to combat rising lifestyle diseases, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has rolled out strict new rules requiring restaurants, cafes, and food outlets to display the salt content, caffeine levels, and even how much exercise it would take to burn off a dish’s calories.
Yup, you read that right. It's not just about what you're eating — it’s about how your body pays for it, too.
The Why: Saudi Arabia’s Health Crisis
Saudi Arabia has been facing a public health crisis, with soaring rates of:
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Obesity (nearly 60% of adults overweight or obese)
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Type 2 diabetes (1 in 5 adults affected)
The root cause? Poor diet, high salt intake, sugary drinks, sedentary lifestyles — and lack of awareness.
“These new menu rules are designed to empower consumers to make healthier choices and understand the true cost of their food,”
— SFDA spokesperson, as quoted by Arab News
What's Now Required on Menus?
As of 2025, ALL restaurants, cafés, and fast-food chains in Saudi Arabia must include:
1. Salt Content (mg per serving)
To help reduce the nation's dangerously high sodium intake.
2. Caffeine Levels (mg per drink/food item)
Especially crucial for energy drinks, coffees, teas, and even desserts with chocolate.
3. Calories + Burn Rate
Not only the total calories — but how many minutes of walking, running, or cycling it would take to burn them off.
Sample Menu Label (Now Mandatory)
Salt: 180 mg
Caffeine: 150 mg
Calories: 420 kcal
To burn: 42 mins walking or 20 mins running
This kind of label is now required on digital menus, printed menus, delivery apps, and in-store signage.
Who’s Affected?
This mandate covers:
Restaurants
Cafés
Fast food chains
Food trucks
Hotel dining services
Delivery platforms (e.g., HungerStation, Jahez, Talabat)
Failure to comply? Fines, license suspensions, and even business closure, according to the SFDA.
Why Caffeine and Salt?
Salt:
The average Saudi consumes double the WHO’s recommended daily limit (over 10g/day vs. 5g/day). High sodium = high blood pressure = higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
Caffeine:
Excessive caffeine can lead to insomnia, anxiety, heart palpitations, especially dangerous in children and teens. This rule ensures transparency, especially for energy drinks and trendy coffees.
“Consumers deserve to know exactly what they’re putting in their bodies. This is a new level of nutritional accountability.”
— Dr. Fahad Al-Khudairi, Public Health Specialist, Riyadh Health Affairs
How This Compares Globally
Saudi Arabia is now among the first countries in the world to require exercise equivalents (burn rates) on menus — a move praised by international health advocates.
Other countries with similar nutrition transparency laws:
| Country | What’s Required |
|---|---|
| UK | Calories on menus in large chains |
| USA | Calories + allergen info in chain restaurants |
| Chile | Warning labels for high salt/sugar/fat items |
| Saudi Arabia | Salt, caffeine, calories, AND exercise time |
The burn rate requirement is unique to Saudi Arabia and is expected to influence other nations in the region.
Public Reaction
So far, responses have been mixed but passionate:
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Health professionals applaud the move for its potential to save lives.
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Restaurant owners worry about costs and customer backlash.
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Consumers? Many say it’s eye-opening — and overdue.
One Twitter user wrote:
“Saw that my shawarma needs 70 minutes of walking to burn off. Guess I’m sticking with hummus tonight.”
What This Means for the Region
This is part of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s sweeping national transformation plan. Public health is a key pillar — and food reform is at the center of that goal.
Expect UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait to watch closely. If successful, Gulf-wide policies could be next.
Final Thoughts
This isn't just a menu change — it's a culture shift.
Saudi Arabia is telling the world: you have the right to know what you’re consuming — and how it affects your body.
Whether you’re a nutritionist, a restaurant owner, or just someone trying to make smarter choices — this is a bold leap forward in the fight against chronic disease.
Sources & Official Statements
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Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) – www.sfda.gov.sa
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Arab News – “Saudi Arabia enforces menu labeling to include salt and caffeine levels”
🔗 Link to Article -
World Health Organization (WHO) – Salt Intake & Health
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Gulf News – “Calorie burning labels coming to Saudi menus”
🔗 Gulf News