The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has published a comprehensive report titled “Journey of Change and Health Transformations”, detailing its key achievements in promoting healthier dietary patterns in Saudi Arabia. The report highlighted the Authority’s ongoing commitment to enhancing public health and advancing the Quality of Life Program under Saudi Vision 2030.

The report outlined the SFDA’s implementation of the Healthy Food Strategy through a combination of regulatory reforms and public awareness initiatives. These efforts include issuing technical regulations to reduce added sugars, sodium, and trans fats in food products, as well as enforcing a national ban on partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs). This measure positioned Saudi Arabia as the first country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region to adopt such an initiative in alignment with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.

The report also discussed the SFDA’s voluntary partnerships with major multinational food manufacturers, which are among the most influential in the global food industry. These partnerships represent a significant step forward, given the coordination required with large-scale entities operating complex production systems. They reflect the Authority’s ability to guide collaborative efforts toward improving product composition in support of public health goals. These efforts are monitored through annual reports to ensure transparency and strengthen regulatory compliance.

On the consumer front, the Authority launched several nationwide awareness campaigns and educational tools, including the Healthy Saudi Plate initiative. Issued in 2020 by SFDA’s National Nutrition Committee, the guide is inspired by the USDA’s MyPlate but tailored to local health priorities. It emphasizes fruits and vegetables, reduces focus on carbohydrates, and recommends limiting solid fats and ultra-processed foods, supporting efforts to prevent non-communicable diseases in line with Vision 2030. The SFDA also introduced enhancements to food labeling, such as the optional Multiple Traffic Light system and mandatory declarations of allergens and key nutrition facts, helping consumers make more informed dietary choices.

The report further highlights that SFDA was awarded the 2021 United Nations Interagency Task Force Award in recognition of its efforts to enact food policies that promote public health and help prevent non-communicable diseases. This recognition reflects the SFDA’s growing presence as a global regulatory leader.

The SFDA reaffirms its steadfast commitment to improving the national food environment through evidence-based initiatives that support disease prevention and elevate quality of life, in line with the goals of Vision 2030. These achievements reinforce the Kingdom’s leadership in shaping effective nutrition policies, with the SFDA playing a pivotal role as a regulatory authority in food safety and public health.

Learn more in the full report: https://www.sfda.gov.sa/sites/default/files/2025-10/JourneyChangeHealthTransrormationsV8.pdf