TAMM app integration lets consumers scan Nutri-Mark labels for instant health insights
The Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council (QCC) has revealed that the new Nutri-Mark initiative enables consumers to instantly access clear nutritional information by scanning a QR code on products available across participating retail outlets.
The initiative follows agreements signed between the Council and four major retail chains, which will be the first to exclusively implement the nutritional labeling system on their products. By presenting nutritional information at the exact moment consumers make purchasing decisions, the initiative is expected to encourage healthier eating habits and support informed, faster, and healthier food choices.
The Nutri-Mark initiative, the first of its kind in the region, was launched by the Abu Dhabi Quality and Conformity Council in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre (ADPHC). It introduces a front-of-pack nutrition labeling system designed to empower consumers to make informed and healthier dietary choices.
Engineer Abdullah Hassan Al Maeeni, Executive Director of the Central Testing Laboratory Sector at QCC, explained that Nutri-Mark is a science-based front-of-pack nutrition labeling system that enables consumers to compare the nutritional value of similar products through a simple and easy-to-understand assessment method.
He noted that the initiative is built on three key pillars:
Health: Enhancing nutritional awareness and preventing diseases.
Quality: Providing transparent and accurate standards for product classification.
Technology: Empowering consumers through innovative digital solutions that facilitate access to information.
Al Maeeni stated that Nutri-Mark compares the nutritional value of similar products and classifies them from Grade A, representing the highest nutritional value, to Grade E, representing the lowest. Each grade is assigned a distinct color based on factors such as fat, salt, fiber content, ingredients, and overall nutritional value.
He emphasized that partnerships with major retail chains are strategically important for the initiative’s success, as these retailers reach a broad consumer base across Abu Dhabi and the UAE, ensuring widespread visibility of the label. Adoption by retailers also encourages suppliers and manufacturers to comply with the system, either by displaying the label or improving their products to achieve higher ratings.
The initiative further benefits from being associated with trusted retail brands, helping consumers make healthier food choices and contributing positively to quality of life and public health.
Al Maeeni noted that modern lifestyles characterized by physical inactivity and poor dietary choices have contributed to an increase in chronic diseases, shifting the healthcare burden from communicable to non-communicable diseases.
According to available data, 20.7% of adults aged 20 years and above in the UAE are living with diabetes, with the figure projected to rise to 23% by 2050. The number of younger individuals affected by diabetes is also steadily increasing.
He stressed that Nutri-Mark simplifies complex nutritional information and helps consumers better understand the health implications of food products, enabling them to make healthier and more informed dietary decisions. In the long term, this is expected to improve preventive health outcomes and reduce nutrition-related diseases.
