A loaf of bread, a tub of flavoured laban and a packet of crisps now share something new: a legal ceiling on sodium, sugar and fat per 100g. For food manufacturers and importers, that turns nutrition figures from a label detail into a compliance matter. This is where nutritional analysis in the UAE laboratories becomes part of everyday product planning, and this guide explains the new rules and what they mean for your business.
What has just been announced?
On 6 October 2026, the Ministry of Health and Prevention began implementing a resolution that caps sodium, sugar and fat in selected packaged foods. According to Khaleej Times, it covers bread, sweetened milk drinks, flavoured yoghurt and laban, salty snacks and processed cheese, whether made locally or imported, including products handled by free zone companies. Products made only for export are exempt unless they are sold in the UAE.
The limits are tight and drop in two phases. Leavened bread, for example, moves from 444mg of sodium, 6g of sugars and 8.4g of fat per 100g to 370mg, 5g and 7g in the final phase. Sweetened or flavoured yoghurt and laban see the sugar cap fall from 12g to 10g, and extruded snacks and chips drop from 564mg to 470mg of sodium.
Timelines differ by product group. The first group, which includes bread, milk drinks, yoghurt and salty snacks, has up to nine months from the date the resolution takes effect to meet phase one. Processed cheese has up to two years and three months. Every product must meet the final limits by 31 December 2030. Penalties range from warnings to fines between Dh5,000 and Dh500,000, and violators may face closure for up to six months.
How is the industry responding?
Manufacturers are already moving. The National reports that Al Ain Farms Group has cut added sugar by 10 to 20 per cent across some juices, flavoured milk, yoghurt and laban, while Arla says the rules match its own health ambitions. United Foods says it feels prepared because it already follows international standards.
The wider push is also growing. The National notes that from 1 January next year, large supermarkets in Abu Dhabi will no longer be able to place foods high in fat, salt or sugar at entrances, checkouts and the ends of aisles. Clinicians quoted in the same coverage add that meeting a limit does not automatically make a product healthy, because portion size and overall diet still matter.
Why does lab data matter now?
Because the limits are set per 100g, compliance depends on what is actually in your product. A recipe calculation is a useful starting point, but measured results show the real values, including the natural variation between batches and ingredient suppliers.
Laboratory evidence also appears inside the rules themselves. Khaleej Times reports that businesses seeking an exception from the first-phase limit must submit technical data, registered nutrition label information and test results from an accredited laboratory. The exception is for products where compliance would require cutting an ingredient by more than 20 per cent, and the application window is just 30 days from the date the resolution takes effect.
What should food businesses do now?
Start by checking which of your products fall into the covered categories and which compliance group they belong to. Then measure where each product stands today, so you know the size of the gap against both the phase one and final limits.
Reformulation comes next, and it needs more than a new recipe. Reducing salt and sugar can change texture, taste and how a product keeps, so shelf life testing is worth repeating after any change. Once the new version is ready, retest it to confirm the reduction and to support your nutrition label. Keeping these results on file also prepares you for inspections, since authorities will be monitoring compliance.
How do you choose the right laboratory?
Look for accreditation first, and confirm that it covers the specific tests you need. Anyone comparing options for nutritional analysis testing Dubai wide should also ask about turnaround times, reporting formats and whether the lab can support shelf life testing alongside nutritional analysis.
Test early, comply with confidence
URS Testing Laboratory LLC is an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory with EIAC, based in Dubai, and its Special Tests service covers shelf life testing and nutritional analysis. Explore the Special Tests page or contact us to plan your product testing before the deadlines arrive.