Bahrain is facing renewed pressure to finally enforce mandatory calorie and ingredient labelling in restaurants, cafés and diners, nearly a decade after the proposal was first approved, as public representatives warn the kingdom risks falling behind the rest of the Gulf.
Capital Trustees Board chairman Saleh Tarradah led the call, stressing that consumers today expect transparency and have the right to know exactly what they are eating.
“Consumers today are more aware than ever and they want to track nutrition, calories and macros,” he said. “There are mobile applications that can scan and provide this information, but they are not official and do not follow a unified or regulated system like those adopted across the GCC.”
Mr Tarradah suggested that modern solutions could make implementation easier and more flexible for businesses.
Mr Tarradah, right, with Dr Al Qattan
“The display of calories and ingredients does not necessarily have to be printed on boards or menus – it could be made available through scannable systems,” he explained.
“What is concerning is that Bahrain was among the first to push for this initiative, yet every other Gulf country has implemented it while we have not. This raises serious questions.”
The regulation, originally approved in 2018, has yet to be enforced, despite all other GCC countries – including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman – rolling out mandatory calorie labelling requirements in recent years.
Saudi inspectors checking on calorie signs
Capital Trustees Board vice-chairwoman Dr Khulood Al Qattan echoed the urgency, describing the issue as both a public health priority and a fundamental consumer right.
“People deserve to know what they are consuming – whether it comes in a package or is served on a plate,” she said. “Today, Bahrain stands as the only Gulf country that has not applied this rule, despite being among the first to propose it.”
Dr Al Qattan noted that the transition could be swift, given that many food outlets in Bahrain already operate under regional or international brands.
“With the right push, we can catch up quickly because a large number of restaurants and cafés already have calorie information available through their regional or global operations,” she said. “Applying this regulation would enhance transparency, strengthen consumer confidence and support healthier lifestyle choices.”
She added that the next step must be decisive government action.
“This requires a clear ministerial directive supported by an implementation plan,” Dr Al Qattan said. “Bahrain should not be the exception – food transparency must become a national priority.”
Momentum is also building within Parliament, with MPs pushing for a firm timeline to finally bring the regulation into force.
Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee chairman and Strategic Thinking Bloc president Ahmed Al Salloom, who originally proposed it eight years ago, described the delay as unacceptable, calling for the law to be implemented from the start of next year.
“It’s frankly embarrassing,” he said. “Bahrain led the way with this initiative, but every Gulf country has moved ahead and implemented it while we continue to stall.”
Mr Al Salloom pointed out that the groundwork for implementation is already in place.
Mr Al Salloom
“The regulation is ready and no longer complicated,” he said. “Many restaurants and cafés in Bahrain are part of Gulf-wide chains or global franchises that already apply calorie labelling elsewhere. Bahrain could simply adopt the same data and move forward immediately.”
He stressed that the issue goes beyond regulation, framing it as a critical public health measure.
“This is about giving people the information they need to make better choices,” Mr Al Salloom said. “We already require nutrition labelling on supermarket products – it is only logical to demand the same level of transparency from restaurants and cafés.”
With nearly one-third of Bahraini teenagers classified as overweight or obese, MPs argue that clearer nutritional information could play a key role in addressing unhealthy eating habits driven by high levels of sugar, salt and fat consumption.
Mr Al Salloom urged the Industry and Commerce Ministry to act without further delay.
“The delay has gone on for far too long,” he said. “It is time to act.”
While the reasons behind the prolonged delay remain unclear, there are indications that efforts are under way to standardise calorie counting methods and ensure accuracy through official monitoring systems.
However, with public frustration growing and regional comparisons becoming increasingly stark, pressure is mounting on authorities to finally turn long-standing policy into reality.
mohammed@gdnmedia.bh
&uuid=(email))