Saudi restaurants are now required to have calorie info on menus
The new rules also require restaurants to display caffeine info…
In a new wave of concern for public health, the Kingdom has announced several new Saudi menu rules so diners can be aware of the nutrition information in the dishes being ordered.
Effective this week, the new Saudi menu rules mandate caffeine content disclosure, high salt content labelling, and physical activity calorie burn labelling on menus for out-of-home restaurants and cafes.
The #SFDA has been designated as a WHO Regional Center for Nutrition Collaboration, a testament to Saudi Arabia’s commitment to public health and a reflection of the ambitions of the Health Sector Transformation Program, a core initiative of #SaudiVision2030.… pic.twitter.com/iwNHydBk4A
— Saudi Food & Drug Authority (@Saudi_fda_en) June 24, 2025
The move comes as part of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA)’s preventative efforts to increase life expectancy and reduce chronic disease rates.
The caffeine content regulation requires restaurants and cafes to clearly label the caffeine content, specifying milligrams per 100 millilitres or cup. SFDA has also launched an online caffeine calculator here to track your daily caffeine.
While the sodium content regulation mandates restaurants and cafes to label menu items containing over five grams of salt (2,000mg sodium) by adding a “salt” icon on all menus (paper and online) and online delivery platforms, too.
This initiative aims to raise awareness of high-sodium foods and reduce excessive salt consumption and prevent health problems associated with excessive salt consumption in the long run.
The physical activity calorie burn labelling regulation requires restaurants and cafes to indicate the time needed to burn calories consumed from menu items.
Specialists and interested parties are encouraged to review the approved technical regulations on the “Mwasfah” online store here.
Check out all the news stories in KSA here.
Visit: spa.gov.sa
Images: Getty
