BAKERIES in the country which fail to stick to the prescribed salt limits will face legal action from January next year.
The tough move follows a three-year plan announced by the Health Ministry in 2018 to reduce fat and sodium content in baked products, in an effort to combat chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The ministry had stated that it aimed to gradually cut back salt content in breads to 5gm per kilogramme of flour within three years. Khubz, pizza bread, sandwiches and burger buns are all high consumption items in the country.
“We have been continuously monitoring bakeries across Bahrain over the last three years and we are happy to see the compliance,” Public Health Nutrition Directorate nutritionist Ameena Ahmed told the GDN.
“The project was implemented in phases. During the first two phases, we saw bakeries slowly adapting to the regulation based on our notifications.
“Now there is awareness in the industry and we are in third phase – we have sent the final notice to bakeries which are yet to follow the regulation.
“They have time until the end of the year and from the New Year, any bakery found violating the rule on salt limits will face legal action.”
International standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO) state that adults should consume less than 2,000mg of sodium, or five grams of salt, and at least 3,510mg of potassium per day. However, health officials in Bahrain earlier found that the total salt consumption per capita, as well as daily individual consumption, among males was around 5,300mg and females was 3,730mg.
Ms Ahmed
Ms Ahmed said the nutrition department had been collecting bread samples for analysis as part of a monitoring mechanism over the last two years.
“A total of 37 European and 38 traditional bakeries were covered in the first phase and 217 bread samples were collected,” she said.
“Of this, 5.5pc met the target for salt while 43.3pc was closer to achieving it.
“In the second phase, we covered 36 European bakeries and 19 traditional outlets.
“Of the 198 bread samples taken, 14.6pc stuck to the prescribed salt limit, 49pc inched closer to the mark while 36.4pc had high sodium content.
“We have sent notifications to bakeries informing them of the amount of sodium (salt) being used currently, and the target they must reach by the end of 2021.”
Dr Ajnan
Health Ministry head of nutrition and public health consultant Dr Buthaina Ajnan told the GDN that she was optimistic of the nation achieving its goal to fully eliminate trans fats in local and imported products.
“More salt, sugars and trans fats in bread have led to a surge in NCDs, increased blood pressure and renal and heart diseases in the country,” she said.
“The new programme has been put in place to control the prevalence of diseases by reducing the diet risk factors.
“We are glad that there is awareness amongst traders and consumers on the need for a healthy diet and lifestyle.”
The four main non-communicable diseases are cardiovascular, cancer, respiratory conditions and diabetes – all of which have a high prevalence in the region and account for 75 per cent of global fatalities.
The GDN has repeatedly reported on experts raising red flags about rising rates of lifestyle diseases in Bahrain.
According to the latest statistics, a third of the nation’s citizens aged above 18 are overweight while 42.8pc are obese.
Last week, a regional forum on stroke also highlighted that 80pc cent of people suffering a stroke were found to have hypertension, which they believe resulted from increased salt intake and obesity. Diabetes was also found to be a risk factor.
Bahrain is one of the countries most affected by diabetes, with an incidence rate of 14.7pc in the adult population.
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