Food authority requires Saudi restaurants, cafes to list calories

The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) is now requiring restaurants, cafes and other food shops to display calories of meals and drinks offered to consumers.

Food shops will have until Dec. 31, 2018 to implement the new instructions, otherwise, they will be subject to regulatory actions, the statement added.

The list of the calorie intake will be applied to all food shops including restaurants, cafes, and shops selling ice cream, juices, bakery, sweets in addition to supermarkets, governmental entities and universities. Only special orders of spices and food items for shopping are excluded.