Combating the epidemic of Non-Communicable Diseases in Oman by changing the nutritional quality of the food chain.

This Policy focused on nutritional quality of the food chain is a nationwide sectoral document broadly aiming at promoting a healthy diet and preventing obesity and diet-related NCDs. It identifies (i) urgent needs, to be achieved within one year, and (ii) needs. The main interventions shall be (i) reducing salt intake by focusing initially on highly-salted common foods, e.g. bread, cheese, canned foods, processed meats, and pickles/spices involving cheese manufacturers, processed meat producers, and import businesses. There is a need also for Government guidelines on this issue; (ii) measures for eliminating trans fat involving food oil refining industries and food importers; (iii) reducing saturated fat from two major sources, namely milk and milk products; (iv) enhancing the workers' health by changing the menus in the businesses employing canteens; (v) educating caterers and those responsible for home cooking; (vi) establishing a differential taxation system to make the consumers’ price of products with a reduced fat content lower than the same products with a higher fat content; (vii) establishing mandatory labeling schemes for fat content that are easily understandable; (viii) providing adequate information to consumers.