Helping Catering Businesses & Central Kitchens Expand into School Foods Supply

Client Spotlight - Ben’s Farmhouse, UAE

, started two years ago by renowned Chef Ben Tobitt supported by ‘Superwoman’ Meerim Ryskulbek both formerly of Jumeirah Group.

The vision was to create a brand creating clean, fresh food using locally sourced ingredients.

Since inception, the focus has been about supplying ready to eat products B2B - to cafes, specialty food retailers and supermarkets etc. With the same Ben’s Farmhouse is now entering the business of School Catering.

For both Ben & Meerim, proper publishing and sharing of allergen information for customers was at their core but with their new brand, they went a step further and decided to display nutrient information too.

‘Initially, the calculation, label creation and printing process was highly manual and thereby ineffective which was then replaced by NutriCal - which helped streamline and made their operations efficient.’

Speaking of School Catering Services, the KHDA (Knowledge and Human Development Authority), Ministry of Education and local authorities such as Dubai Municipality are regulatory bodies incharge of the monitoring of vendors and foods being served to children at school premises. This has two categories - 

Category 1- which is canteen managed by an external contractor with a facility either inside the school or outside the school 

Category 2- which is the canteen managed by the school and food may be supplied by individual food businesses.

There is a list of prohibited ingredients and nutrients such as fats, saturated fats, sugar and sodium need to be within limits and ingredients causing allergic reactions are not allowed. 

Ben’s team got through the entire process of getting their menu approved and has gotten into 3 different categories for the same and has used NutriCal through the process in order to create, adjust and share their recipes, their nutrient and allergen profile.

To find our more on how we can help your central kitchen, catering or wholesale business- contact us on 

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Did you know that every hotel, food manufacturer, and large food brand like Pizza Hut, Domino's, Baskin Robbins, Starbucks, and McDonald's has dedicated Health and Safety Officers, also known as Food Safety Experts, working behind the scenes to ensure your health and well-being? 

These unsung heroes play a vital role in monitoring food safety, allergen management, and compliance with regulations to provide you with safe and delicious meals.

Health Safety Quality Officers are professionals responsible for upholding strict food safety and hygiene standards in the food industry.

Their primary focus is to safeguard consumer health by ensuring that the food you consume is safe, protecting you from foodborne illnesses and allergen-related risks.

These experts oversee various aspects of food safety, including monitoring food quality, managing allergens, implementing proper handling and storage practices, and ensuring compliance with industry and regional regulations.

 Empowers & Enables Health Safety Quality Officers:

's user-friendly platform enables officers to efficiently manage allergen data, ensuring accurate allergen information is readily available to consumers, protecting their health and well-being.

 simplifies the process of generating precise nutrition information for menu items, enabling officers to provide you with valuable information about the nutritional content of the food you enjoy.

 offers a range of training resources, allowing officers to enhance their skills and knowledge in food safety and hygiene. These resources include training programs, guidelines, and industry updates to ensure officers stay up-to-date with the latest practices and regulations.

 goes beyond allergen management, nutrition information, and training. It provides comprehensive support to Health Safety Quality Officers in various aspects of food safety, including streamlining compliance with regulations, facilitating data management, and promoting best practices in food safety and hygiene.

's multifaceted support, Health Safety Quality Officers can confidently fulfill their roles, ensuring that the food you consume is safe, allergen-free, and meets the highest standards of quality.

Thanks to the dedicated efforts of Health Safety Quality Officers, your favorite food brands prioritize your health and safety. 

 empowers these officers by providing them with a comprehensive software platform that streamlines allergen management, ensures accurate nutrition information, promotes compliance with regulations, and supports continuous training.

Together, they work towards delivering safe, high-quality food, providing you with peace of mind and enjoyable food-related experiences.

Health Safety Quality Officers: The Unsung Heroes of Food Safety

 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi with capability and willingness to supply schools should submit a food menu for approval to Dubai Municipality (DM) and / or Abu Dhabi Agriculture & Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA / ADFCA). 

The submission for snacks, meals etc should include but is not limited to-

The submission for beverages or liquids include but is not limited to-

NutriCal system allows you to create products and recipes keeping in mind nutritional profiling and allows you to calculate calorie in existing products and recipes too. You are able to download all recipes and their pertaining nutrient information into an excel or csv file to complete required paperwork for submission.

The cloud based recipe and menu management system is beneficial to store everything in one place and the food costing and Arabic & English Nutrition Facts Label is preferred by catering companies too.

Call or Whatsapp us today on + 971 54 994 1190 or email 

 to inquire further. You are able to activate a free login directly from the website too.

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Guidelines to Cater Food to Schools

With increasing awareness about health and fitness, different varieties of diets are being followed. It becomes mandatory for the restaurants to provide what customers demand for. Keto diet, gluten free diet, low carbohydrate diet, high protein diet are some of the diets which has created a new rage in food industry. Providing these diet foods with restaurant taste is a challenge. Lets understand the how can we provide taste and health in gluten free diet

Gluten is a type of protein which is found in wheat, rye and barley. Some people are unable to digest gluten, hence they are advised to follow gluten free diet. Recent studies have shown weight loss benefits by following gluten free diet. However, gluten is also found in food thickeners, mixed spices, ready to eat food, oats. So, reading the food label is mandatory.

Products made of millet, buckwheat, amaranth, soya, almond, rice are considered as gluten free. Buckwheat pasta and spaghetti, rice breads, millet cakes and breads, gluten free flour are easily available in market.

Below are some of the gluten free recipes:

Ingredients used: Almond flour, flaxseeds, arrowroot, baking powder, oregano, oil, salt, cheese, vegetable toppings

Ingredients used: Almond flour, flaxseeds, arrowroot, tapioca starch, baking powder, oil, salt

Ingredients used: Buckwheat pasta, tomato puree, onion, bell pepper, cheese, chilli flakes, oregano, salt, oil

Ingredients used: Sugar, potato starch, tapioca flour, sorghum flour, baking powder, flavoring agent, vegetable oil

There are many ready to eat gluten free products available in the market which can help in making exclusive mouth-watering recipes. This is also a challenge to the industry to be creative and innovate new recipes. To summarize, gluten free recipes are not limited or difficult to make in today’s era with the options available. All we need to find is the right alternative ingredient to replace and make the recipe tasty.

We at Nutrical, can assist you with our restaurant labels to provide nutrient values of the innovative gluten free recipes

PS: Oats is gluten free. However, oats and wheat are processed in same factory, which could lead to cross contamination. Hence, oats are avoided in gluten free diet or use oats with gluten free label.

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Gluten Free Recipe Creation for Restaurants

Dubai start-up plans to expand to Saudi Arabia as it caters to growing consciousness about the need for a balanced diet

Generation Start-up: Dubai’s NutriCal makes restaurants count calories

The Vital Role of Therapeutic Diets in Healthcare Management

In the realm of managing health conditions especially in-patient, therapeutic diets stand as pivotal tools. These diets aren't just about eating healthy; they are meticulously structured to address specific health concerns and play a significant role in improving overall well-being. These diets must be nutritionally adequate and focused on every patient’s specific condition. That way these diets provide the essential ability to treat and mitigate health issues effectively.

From addressing renal problems to promoting heart health, therapeutic diets are instrumental in positively impacting various health conditions. They aren't one-size-fits-all solutions but rather personalized nutritional plans designed to meet specific health needs.

According to Dr. Elena Fenske, Naturopathic Doctor In Vancouver, BC,

“A therapeutic diet is a plan that controls the intake of certain foods or nutrients. It is usually a modification of a person’s regular diet, tailored to fit the nutrition needs, guided by a naturopathic doctor. A therapeutic nutrition diet can help with diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, and obesity and can potentially slow down the progress or prevent many other types of illnesses. “ 

As diet and health share an inseparable bond, what we consume directly affects our body's functions, impacting energy levels, organ health, and overall wellness. A well-balanced therapeutic diet can regulate blood sugar levels, manage blood pressure, and even reduce the risk of complications in chronic conditions.

Following a prescribed therapeutic diet under medical guidance is imperative. It ensures that the dietary changes are tailored to individual health needs, minimizing the risk of aggravating health conditions or nutrient imbalances. Medical supervision also enables adjustments as necessary, ensuring optimal health management.

There exists a spectrum of therapeutic diets, each tailored to address specific health concerns. Let's explore some prominent types:

Depending on whether or not the patient is undergoing dialysis, protein needs may increase due to losses during the process. Adjusting intake becomes crucial, necessitating individualized dietary management to maintain optimal health and kidney function. 

Focusing on heart health, a cardiac diet aims to reduce risk factors linked to cardiovascular diseases. Guidelines typically emphasize controlling cholesterol, saturated fat, sodium, and

overall caloric intake. Catering in line with heart-healthy principles involves offering dishes low in trans fats, using healthier cooking methods, and incorporating ample fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. 

Tailored for individuals with diabetes, this diet centers on managing blood sugar levels. It involves controlling carbohydrate intake, prioritizing whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. Catering for diabetic individuals involves offering balanced meals with low glycemic index foods and avoiding excessive sugars and refined carbohydrates. 

Primarily used for managing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), this diet restricts fermentable carbohydrates that cause digestive discomfort. Catering in this realm involves being mindful of ingredients that might trigger symptoms, focusing on low FODMAP options such as certain fruits, vegetables, and grains. 

Essential for those with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, this diet avoids gluten-containing foods like wheat, barley, and rye. Catering companies need to ensure menu items are entirely gluten-free and prevent cross-contamination. 

These specialized methods involve delivering nutrients directly to the digestive system (enteral) or intravenously (parenteral) for individuals who cannot eat conventionally. Catering may not directly apply here but understanding these nutritional needs is essential for healthcare facilities. 

These cater to individuals with swallowing difficulties, offering various textures like minced, pureed, or soft foods. Catering companies can create dishes aligned with these textures to aid safe swallowing. 

Tailored for weight loss or gain, these diets emphasize balanced nutrition to achieve specific health goals. Catering companies can offer portion-controlled meals with nutrient-dense ingredients to support these objectives. 

, GCC's only nutrition analysis software ensures two aspects to support catering companies, nutritionist, dietitians and other professionals in this field - a strong localized database covering regional items and covering essential verified micronutrient information that otherwise is not readily available. Our tool serves as an easy to use, reliable tool for patient menu planning.

Finally, it's important to note that while this guide offers insights into therapeutic diets, none of the data presented here should be construed as medical advice. When making decisions about nutrition or the quality of food served to patients in treatment, seeking validation and guidance from healthcare professionals or registered dietitians is imperative.

#TherapeuticDiets #HealthcareNutrition #DieteticsManagement #HospitalCatering #PrecisionNutrition #WellnessJourney #NutritionalTherapy #CulinaryMedicine #MedicalNutrition #HolisticHealthcare #HospitalFood #ClinicalNutrition #InpatientMeals

Fueling Recovery: The Vital Role of Therapeutic Diets in Healthcare Management

NutriCal, a food data intelligence software, has launched in the region with the aim to equip businesses with information they can use to attract and retain customers.

Food data intelligence software NutriCal launches in the UAE

Calorie count meter helps diners to make calculated decisions

Food data intelligence platform, NutriCal, launches in the UAE

Food allergies used to be more of a problem in western countries, although this part of the world is seeing a rise in food allergies. Food establishments and businesses are recommended to be more cautious in serving food to customers who could potentially be allergic or intolerant.

Cow’s milk has been the most common allergy here followed by wheat (gluten) and eggs, there is a prevalence of tree nut allergy too amongst the population here, and sesame seeds as well.

Restaurant operators need to be cautious in this regard as Lebanese food contains the use of a lot of sesame seeds, Indian food contains tree nuts and dairy products, and Japanese food contains seafood and other shellfish. These are the most preferred cuisines amongst the UAE crowd.

Dubai Municipality, Food Safety Department published a Food Code document in 2020 highlighting the following allergy ingredients, compound ingredients, additives in any amount-

#foodallergy #foodallergies #dubairestaurants #foodsafety #foodlabelling

Food Labelling Dubai (Allergies for Non-Packaged / Restaurant Food)

Everything you need to know about the calorie regulation for restaurants in Bahrain

Standalone restaurants, restaurant chains, cafes, food trucks, F&B groups, and restaurants at hotels now need to start prepping for getting their food menu calorie-counted.

Such initiatives have been taken into full effect by other GCC countries already such as KSA Calorie Regulation by Saudi Food & Drug Authority and soon by Dubai Municipality, UAE.

Bahrain is not being left behind. The idea was first floated by Muharraq Municipal Council in 2018. 

The proposed regulation is to display nutrition facts on physical menu cards, online menus, food delivery platforms and apps, websites, etc.

How can you ensure that you are displaying nutritional information accurately as a food business?

Let the team at NutriCal help you - NutriCal is a calorie calculator and nutritional analysis software including a team of business development, customer service, dietitians, and technology experts. 

We work with restaurants and groups of all formats and cuisines such as Indian, Japanese, Lebanese, Arabic, American etc to help ease this process.

By working with us, we will provide you with accurate nutritional labels in English and Arabic to share with your customers.

This initiative is led by Health Ministry’s Public Health Directorate nutrition section chief Dr Buthainal Ajlan and is part of a broader strategy to ensure people are well-informed to make healthier food choices.

Are you interested in allergy publishing too? 

Email us on info@nutrical.co or call / Whatsapp us on + 971 54 994 1190 for more information.

Source Link - https://www.gdnonline.com/Details/977691 

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