See our top 10 most read Middle East stories of 2020, featuring the emerging e-commerce trend, food security concerns, and COVID-19 related food imports.
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See our top 10 most read Middle East stories of 2020, featuring the emerging e-commerce trend, food security concerns, and COVID-19 related food imports.
Two countries in the Middle East had suspended import of some Chinese food products to soothe public concerns in light of the COVID-2019 outbreak.
Jordan implemented a temporary import ban on February 2 for all animal and plant-based products from China.
Karim Al-Hussami, director of licensing at Jordanian Agriculture Ministry said in a media statement: “Import licenses from China have been suspended until further notice. This will be reviewed in the coming period when things stabilise.”
In Egypt, the Vegetables and Fruits Division of the Cairo Chamber of Commerce officially announced on February 9 that imports of garlic, carrot and green ginger from China would be temporarily suspended.
Fish caught from the seas surrounding Turkey were found to be contaminated with heavy metals above the recommended maximum limit, in particular, lead and cadmium.
These findings were significant because heavy metals not only destroy the ecological aquasystem, but also endangers human health.
Turkey has been urging its population to eat more fish.
As a country surrounded by four seas, Turkish people consume about 6kg of fish per year (2018 data), although this was below the average consumption of 24kg in Europe.
Consumers in Saudi Arabia had drastically ramped-up their online purchases of food products in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, new data revealed.
The stats revealed that 55% of the population purchased grocery items online in April, compared to just 6% before the outbreak.
The findings were based on an online survey conducted by Dubai-based Choueiri Group (CG) between mid-March to April, involving 2800 Saudi participants.
In Saudi Arabia, the government had shut down public venues, with the majority of the population working remotely, and social distancing measures implemented.
The Ministry of Economy in UAE had stated that it had enough food to meet the needs of its citizens for at least six months, amidst concerns of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak which showed no signs of slowing in the region.
In a press release published by the Ministry, it confirmed that there was ample supply of foods, including fruits, vegetables and medical goods.
UAE said the supply was sufficient for all its seven Emirates states, and while it can last at least half a year, the Ministry stressed that there must continue to be daily imports from international markets to maintain or increase this stock.
The UAE has a relatively smooth supply chain and an absence of obstacles, particularly when it comes to transporting goods whether by air, land or sea. It imports its fruits and vegetables from various markets including North America, South America, and South Africa.
The UAE government had closed all fish, meat and vegetable markets for two weeks in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
The Ministry of Health and Prevention and the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority said the decision would be subjected to review and re-assessment.
In the announcement, the UAE was also closing all commercial centres and shopping malls. This excludes pharmacies, and food retail outlets, including cooperative societies, grocery stores, and supermarkets, along with fish, meat and vegetables markets dealing with wholesalers.
Restaurants were also not be allowed to receive customers. Instead, their services would be limited to home deliveries only.
The Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA) had implemented the regulation No. 2483/2018 which banned the use of partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) in the food industry with effect this year.
The regulation was first implemented in 2018, giving food importers and manufacturers two years to comply.
According to SFDA website, the regulation now applies to all food products intended for human consumption, with the exception of completely hydrogenated oils and trans-fats from natural sources (animal sources).
The country had already implemented a 2% trans-fatty acids (TFA) limit for fats/oils and a 5% TFA limit for all other foods, with effect in 2017.
The GCC food and beverage market is expected to increase between 5 to 6% this year, largely driven by retail sales amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Traditionally, retail accounts for about 70% of GCC’s F&B market, with hotels, restaurants and cafés (HORECA) accounting for the other 30%. Post-COVID-19, retail is expected to increase to 90%, while contribution of HORECA is expected to dip to 10%.
This is according to Frost & Sullivan’s analysis on the processed F&B markets in Middle East.
The processed F&B market include bakery, cereals, fruits, vegetables, dairy, meat, beverages, snacks, and condiments. The analysis covered retail including local grocery stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets as well as HORECA channels.
An intensive lifestyle intervention comprising a low-calorie diet and physical activity led to significant weight loss and diabetes remission in 61% of patients.
The study, funded by the Qatar National Research Fund, also found that the one-year lifestyle intervention improved glycaemia levels in 30% of patients.
Current type 2 diabetes care focus on drugs to control blood sugar, cholesterol, and blood pressure, with the assumption that insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas are irreversibly damaged by the time of diabetes diagnosis.
However, researchers in Qatar proposed that abdominal fat accumulation, which harms insulin-producing cells, may be reversible through weight loss.
The annual Global Food Security Index (GFSI) 2019 published by The Economist Intelligence Unit revealed Qatar to be the number one nation for food security among 15 Middle Eastern and North African countries.
Qatar was ranked 13th overall across 113 countries covered in the index. The report in its eight edition takes into account three issues of food security, affordability, availability, and quality and safety.
According to the report, food security across the Middle East was largely a factor of country wealth.
Stable food prices, and near non-existent poverty contribute to ensuring food security, in particularly food affordability.
UAE’s dairy giant, Al Ain Farms had launched its first bottled water product lower in sodium, in a bid to improve the country’s food security and health situation.
It is marketed under the brand name H20. The water is sourced from Hatta, a town in UAE.
Milana Boskovic, the head of marketing at Al Ain Farms told FoodNavigator-Asia it was the first water product the company had launched.
The company produces mostly dairy products such as milk, yoghurt, cheese, camel milk as well as poultry, juice and sports drinks. Largely known as a dairy company, Al Ain Farms hopes to be a leading local food and beverage company by 2021, with new product launches such as bottled water.
