Dubai is taking significant steps to enhance the health and safety of school canteens by implementing stricter guidelines and introducing innovative digital tools. The "My School Food" platform, launched by the Dubai Municipality, aims to create a comprehensive ecosystem for food safety and nutrition across all educational institutions in the emirate. This initiative targets over 400,000 students and 500 schools, nurseries, and universities.
Key Takeaways
- Stricter guidelines for portion sizes, nutritional value, and calorie counting.
- Introduction of an AI chatbot named Ghalia for nutrition-related queries.
- Focus on promoting nutrient-rich foods, increasing fiber, and reducing added sugars.
- Emphasis on sustainability through "Green Canteens" and reduced single-use packaging.
- New role of "Nutrition in Charge" (NIC) to ensure compliance.
Enhanced Nutritional Standards
The updated "Enhanced Dubai Food and Nutrition Guidelines and Requirements for Educational Institutions" mandate that school canteens provide clear portion control and consistent labeling. This includes calorie counting, per serving size criteria, and meal and age percentage criteria. The program strongly emphasizes healthier dietary choices, promoting increased fiber intake, reduced added sugars, and encouraging water consumption while regulating coffee and tea. Additionally, maintaining good personal hygiene, preventing illness transmission, and managing allergens are key food safety requirements.
Sustainability and Digital Integration
The initiative also champions sustainability with the "Green Canteens" concept, encouraging the planning of sustainable menus, the use of locally sourced ingredients, reduction of food waste, and avoidance of single-use packaging. The "My School Food" platform offers tailored resources for various stakeholders: teachers will find nutrition lesson plans, parents can access healthy recipes and educational courses, and food suppliers/caterers can utilize interactive learning materials. Students can engage with gamified tutorials on food safety and nutrition.
AI Chatbot and Compliance
A significant technological advancement is the introduction of an AI chatbot named Ghalia, designed to provide instant, interactive guidance on nutrition-related questions. This AI assistant is integrated into DM Checked, the revamped version of the "Food Watch" digital platform. The municipality has also introduced the "Nutrition in Charge" (NIC) role within schools to ensure adherence to the new nutritional mandates. A school food audit system requires all catering companies supplying schools to register and undergo monthly self-audits, with a real-time monitoring capability for food inspectors.