Inside the UAE’s push towards a healthier food system
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) National Strategy for Healthy Nutrition 2031 has grand plans to revamp health and nutrition in the country — but lofty challenges lie ahead
The strategy was recently given the go-ahead by the UAE cabinet, and is a major collaborative project between the UAE Food Cluster and the local Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP).
This is being positioned as a comprehensive framework to improve the nation’s overall nutritional health, reduce the burden of diet-related disease and promote a more resilient population.
Price hikes hit Japan processed foods hardest amid Middle East conflict
Japan’s food price hikes are expected to intensify in 2026, with processed foods seeing the biggest increases as the ‘Middle East situation’ adds pressure
Teikoku Databank’s July 2026 survey projected that food price increases would continue through the remainder of the year.
Price hikes were observed for 5,780 processed foods – which include instant noodles, canned goods, and frozen foods – according to business intelligence firm Teikoku Databank.
OSK makes caffeine-free tea play as it eyes US, Middle East
Japanese tea brand OSK is expanding its caffeine-free range to tap health trends and capture international growth
OSK, the flagship tea brand of Odani Kokufun, is expanding its product portfolio to tap rising demand for health-focused and caffeine-free beverages as it seeks to strengthen its global footprint.
The firm cited increasing demand for caffeine-free teas due to health considerations among certain consumer groups, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, as well as consumers seeking to limit caffeine intake to avoid effects such as sleep disruption.
Iran conflict: food sector’s 8 biggest casualties
Impacts from the Iran conflict have rippled across the global food system, with disruption taking an overall toll on food security and supply chains
Amid the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, ongoing fertiliser shortages and spiralling energy costs are having a major impact. With the geopolitical uncertainty continuing, wider food supply disruptions look set to continue.
The war has placed a chokehold on the global economy, impacting the whole supply chain from oil, fertiliser, to transport to packaging to food production.
FoodNavigator looks at some of the wider impacts of the conflict on the supply chain thus far.
Fertiliser uncertainty grows as Iran conflict drags on
As the conflict continues on, fertiliser costs are no longer the main point of uncertainty for growers
Repeated ceasefire attempts failed to quell tensions in the Middle East, where the conflict involving Iran, the US and its allies continues to have far-reaching implications for global food and agricultural markets.
In the early stages of the war, the fertiliser sector experienced a short-term supply shock.
Months later, the market may be moving towards a more sustained period of uncertainty. According to fertiliser supply and availability scenarios published by the International Fertilizer Association (IFA), a three-month conflict would trigger only temporary supply disruptions and price volatility, with markets recovering within around 120 days.
However, if the war were to continue for six to nine months, normalisation could take a further six to nine months, potentially influencing farm input decisions and affecting the 2027 growing season.
