ABU DHABI // Doctors are urging the Government to regulate salt in food after some brands in the UAE were found to be among the world's saltiest. UAE versions of products from global companies such as KFC and Kellogg's contain more salt than those sold in other countries, according to figures compiled by World Action on Salt and Health (Wash) and information obtained by The National. A serving of KFC popcorn chicken bought in the UAE has 4.7g of salt - more than the same product in the US, Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The Malaysian version has just 1.68g of salt, barely a third the amount of the UAE portion. A serving of Kellogg's Cornflakes in the Middle East contains 1g of salt - the highest of any country tested. Cardiologists and nutrition experts said too much salt could increase the risk of high blood pressure - or hypertension - and lead to strokes and heart disease, a major killer in the Emirates. Dr Wael al Mahmeed, the president of the Emirates Cardiac Society, noted that the World Health Organisation recommends that people have no more than a teaspoon - 5g - of salt a day. "Here, the average is 7g a day," he said. "Some people are taking much higher."
He said consumer demand alone might not be enough to sway companies to lower salt levels. "They won't do it on their own. The local food authorities and the Ministry of Health should set regulations," he said. "If salt content is higher here than in the US, for example, we should ask [the food makers] to at least make them uniform. "In the UAE, it's very important to educate people that salt is a risk factor for hypertension," he added. "People don't realise they should be cutting the amount of salt in their food. A lot of Emiratis eat fast food. KFC in particular is extremely popular."
A KFC fillet burger in the Emirates contains 3.5g of salt, exceeded only by New Zealand's 3.7g per serving. In Malaysia, it has 0.83g. Two McChicken sandwiches in the UAE, adding up to 4.6g of salt, would account for nearly an entire day's recommended salt intake. The global figures were compiled by Wash, a British lobby group, and the UAE amounts were given by the manufacturers' UAE or regional offices. Marketing and regional tastes might have a lot to do with the variations, said Ellen Edwards, the chief dietician at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.
"It's serious, hi-tech marketing and research on how to get the best sales," she said. "And salt sells." Ms Edwards pointed out that Burger King UAE scored lower on the Wash table than many of its international counterparts. But she favoured legal controls because "presently people don't know how much sodium they're getting".
Dr Mustafa Arici, a spokesman for Wash, agreed that cultural habits and taste could account for the salt variances. "We like salty food in this part of the world," he said. "The climate in the UAE is hot, so it may be an issue because if you lose too much salt in sweat, you must replace it." Health authorities in countries such as the US, Britain and Turkey had striven to reduce salt consumption, he said. "Efforts by the UAE Government to do the same should be supported."
After pressure from lobbying groups in the US, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began labelling food with sodium levels based on a maximum of 2.4g per day. In Britain, a target has been set to halve the current recommendation of 6g of salt a day to 3g by 2025. A McDonald's filet-o-fish in the UAE was near the top of the chart with 1.8g, against 1.43g in Australia, the lowest region. Rafic Fakih, the managing director of McDonald's UAE, attributed the difference to factors such as the fish used, a range of food producers and variations that might be introduced during cooking. The figures also have a margin of error of 20 per cent.
"Where there are no particular salt restrictions, we strive for consistency around the world. We do not seek higher salt contents in some countries than others." Mr Fakih added that McDonald's was working to centralise its testing and reporting of nutritional information to eliminate confusion.
Neither KFC Arabia nor Burger King UAE would comment. Subway UAE declined to provide the information, but said in a statement: "The Subway chain has made a commitment to reduce sodium, and has been working aggressively to reduce sodium in all products." The company plans to provide sodium information in its stores and on its website.
Kellogg's dismissed the findings. "Product sold by Kellogg distributors in the Middle East is European product, and will therefore be the same formula and content across all markets," the company said. "Kellogg formulas for the same product can vary across the world, based on geographical variances in consumer taste preferences and ingredient supplies."
Dr Afzal Yusufali, a consultant cardiologist at Dubai Hospital, said a comprehensive UAE study of factors such as high blood pressure was being compiled. "There is a need to estimate more accurately the amount of salt we consume in the UAE before we embark on a well-organised national policy regarding the recommended salt intake."
The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority did not respond to requests for comment.
mkwong@thenational.ae
Company profile
Company name: Suraasa
Started: 2018
Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker
Based: India, UAE and the UK
Industry: EdTech
Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
The Florida Project
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Bria Vinaite, Brooklynn Prince, Willem Dafoe
Four stars
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
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On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Teams
Punjabi Legends Owners: Inzamam-ul-Haq and Intizar-ul-Haq; Key player: Misbah-ul-Haq
Pakhtoons Owners: Habib Khan and Tajuddin Khan; Key player: Shahid Afridi
Maratha Arabians Owners: Sohail Khan, Ali Tumbi, Parvez Khan; Key player: Virender Sehwag
Bangla Tigers Owners: Shirajuddin Alam, Yasin Choudhary, Neelesh Bhatnager, Anis and Rizwan Sajan; Key player: TBC
Colombo Lions Owners: Sri Lanka Cricket; Key player: TBC
Kerala Kings Owners: Hussain Adam Ali and Shafi Ul Mulk; Key player: Eoin Morgan
Venue Sharjah Cricket Stadium
Format 10 overs per side, matches last for 90 minutes
Timeline October 25: Around 120 players to be entered into a draft, to be held in Dubai; December 21: Matches start; December 24: Finals
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
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10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
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- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
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Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Winners
Best Men's Player of the Year: Kylian Mbappe (PSG)
Maradona Award for Best Goal Scorer of the Year: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
TikTok Fans’ Player of the Year: Robert Lewandowski
Top Goal Scorer of All Time: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Best Women's Player of the Year: Alexia Putellas (Barcelona)
Best Men's Club of the Year: Chelsea
Best Women's Club of the Year: Barcelona
Best Defender of the Year: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus/Italy)
Best Goalkeeper of the Year: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG/Italy)
Best Coach of the Year: Roberto Mancini (Italy)
Best National Team of the Year: Italy
Best Agent of the Year: Federico Pastorello
Best Sporting Director of the Year: Txiki Begiristain (Manchester City)
Player Career Award: Ronaldinho
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia