Abu Dhabi Launches Survey to Analyze Food Consumption Patterns

Photo : Abu Dhabi Media Office

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) has initiated a comprehensive field survey aimed at assessing food consumption rates and patterns throughout the emirate. This endeavor is conducted 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 research project underscores ADAFSA's commitment to promoting healthier dietary choices and fostering positive food consumption behaviors as part of its broader strategy to mitigate improper food practices among the emirate's consumers.

This survey aligns with ADAFSA's overarching goals of supporting sustainable development, ensuring food security, promoting agricultural and food investment, and enhancing the overall wellbeing of the Abu Dhabi community. Additionally, the initiative aims to cultivate a resilient society capable of addressing future challenges effectively.

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The survey is designed to collect current and precise data on individual food consumption rates across various regions within the emirate, including Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra. The research will identify the types and quantities of food consumed, analyze consumption behaviors, and investigate the environmental, social, demographic, and cognitive factors influencing these behaviors.

Dr. Arif Abdulwahed Kalantar, Acting Executive Director of ADAFSA's Development and Innovation Sector, emphasized the significance of this field survey in understanding food consumption behaviors across the emirate. He stated that the survey will analyze the dietary habits of both citizens and residents while identifying the factors that impact consumer behavior. Furthermore, it aims to assess and compare food consumption patterns across different regions of Abu Dhabi, contributing to food security, public health improvement, and economic growth stimulation.

Dr. Kalantar pointed out that analyzing food consumption patterns is a crucial tool for understanding shifts in consumer behaviors, identifying unhealthy dietary practices, combating malnutrition, responding to emerging consumption trends, assessing nutritional status, and developing effective food policies. He also highlighted that the survey's data could uncover investment opportunities within the food sector, facilitate the development of innovative food products tailored to consumer needs, and support the design of effective food awareness programs and campaigns.

Dr. Fatima Al Jasmi, Acting Dean of the College of Medicine, expressed her support for the promising research project, which comprises two main components. The first part involves a detailed field survey aimed at gathering precise data on the actual food consumption habits of Abu Dhabi's citizens and residents. This survey will target individuals aged seven and older, collecting comprehensive information on household food consumption, food safety, nutrition, and data related to physical activity and body indicators.

The gathered data will also assist in evaluating the level of exposure to chemical hazards associated with commonly consumed foods, thus allowing for a deeper understanding of these risks and efforts to mitigate them. The research team is particularly focused on examining changes in food consumption behaviors among adults in Abu Dhabi, including variations in consumption patterns across different population groups and socio-economic levels. The insights gained will support policymakers in future planning and development efforts.

His Excellency Yousef Fahd Abdullah Saif, Executive Director of the Statistics Sector at SCAD, emphasized the center's commitment to enabling government entities to adhere to the highest statistical standards, ensuring quality in administrative records and, consequently, the reliability of statistical outputs at the emirate level. He noted that the statistical collaboration between SCAD and ADAFSA allows for precise data extraction, enabling ADAFSA to evaluate the effectiveness of its decisions and policies aimed at the sustainable development of the agriculture and food sectors in the emirate. SCAD provides a range of statistical methodologies and guidelines to ensure effective coordination and organization of official statistics, thereby contributing to achieving sustainable development goals in Abu Dhabi in line with global standards and practices.

The data on food consumption is essential for assessing food safety risks and safeguarding public health. It serves as a vital scientific foundation for governments to formulate effective policies, implement risk management strategies, and offer sound food safety advice to the public.

The survey will continue through the end of 2025 and will focus on residents of the emirate aged seven and above. Data collection will be conducted by specialized staff from the UAEU, who will visit homes within a carefully selected representative sample of households across the emirate, in collaboration with SCAD.

To ensure the reliability and accuracy of the data, the survey will utilize the electronic Abu Dhabi Food Intake 24 program, designed according to the highest global standards for data collection. This program will record detailed information regarding food and beverage consumption throughout the day while maintaining the confidentiality of all participants' personal data.

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