Abu Dhabi to study residents' food consumption habits

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has launched a comprehensive field survey to determine food consumption rates and patterns across Abu Dhabi, to enhance food security and determine areas of potential investment.

In collaboration with the College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and the Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi (SCAD), the survey seeks to gather up-to-date and accurate data on individual food consumption rates across various regions in the Emirate, including Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra. It will identify the types and quantities of food consumed, analyse consumption behaviours, and determine the environmental, social, demographic, and cognitive factors that influence these behaviours.

The survey will continue until the end of 2025 and will target residents in the emirate aged 7 to 65 years and above. Data collection will be carried out by specialised staff from the UAEU, through home visits to a representative sample of households across the emirate, carefully selected in collaboration with SCAD.

The launch of the survey is part of ADAFSA's broader objectives of supporting sustainable development, ensuring food security, encouraging agricultural and food investment, and improving the overall well-being of Abu Dhabi’s community. This initiative also contributes to building a resilient society capable of confronting future challenges.

Acting Executive Director of ADAFSA's Development and Innovation Sector, Dr. Arif Abdulwahed Kalantar, said, "This field survey is vital for understanding food consumption behaviours across the Emirate by analysing the dietary habits of citizens and residents and identifying the factors that influence consumer behaviour. The survey also aims to assess and compare food consumption patterns across different regions of Abu Dhabi, contributing to the achievement of food security, the improvement of public health, and the stimulation of economic growth."

Kalantar emphasised the importance of analysing food consumption patterns as an essential tool for understanding changes in consumer behaviours, identifying unhealthy dietary practices, combating malnutrition, responding to emerging consumption trends, assessing nutritional status, and developing effective food policies.

He also highlighted the potential of using the survey's data to identify investment opportunities in the food sector, develop innovative food products tailored to consumer needs, and design effective food awareness programmes and campaigns.

This data will contribute to assessing the level of exposure to chemical hazards resulting from the consumption of common foods, enabling a deeper understanding of these risks and efforts to mitigate them. Additionally, the research team is focused on studying changes in food consumption behaviours among adults in Abu Dhabi, particularly examining the differences in consumption patterns across various population groups and socio-economic levels. The aim is to provide comprehensive insights into consumer preferences and trends, supporting policymakers in future planning and development efforts.

Statistical coordination between SCAD and ADAFSA allows for the extraction of precise data, enabling ADAFSA to measure the effectiveness of the decisions and policies it implements for the sustainable development of the agriculture and food sectors in the emirate.

The survey will use the electronic "Abu Dhabi Food Intake 24" programme, designed in line with the highest global standards to facilitate data collection and ensure its reliability and accuracy. This programme will record detailed information about food and beverage consumption throughout the day while maintaining the confidentiality of all participants' personal data.