Al Ain Farms Group to lower added sugar across its dairy portfolio

The school lunchbox staples your kids know and love are getting a major health upgrade just in time for the new academic year.

Starting this September, Al Ain Farms and Marmum have committed to drop the added sugar content in their flavoured milks, yoghurts, and labans by 10 to 20 per cent, meaning you can reach for the usual morning favourites with a lot less parental guilt.

Let's be honest, standing in the kitchen at 6:30 am trying to pack a school lunchbox that is both nutritious and likely to actually be eaten is a major daily puzzle. Most parents want their kids to get their calcium, so reaching for local dairy is probably the easiest move. But that quick glance at the sugar content on the label usually brings up a tough dilemma. Do you give them the morning treat they are asking for, or do you play the strict health warden?

Come September, that entire morning routine is getting a massive, stress-free shortcut.

Big upgrades for everyday staples

Some of the most iconic local brands that you have trusted for generations are doing the heavy lifting for you behind the scenes. In close collaboration with Abu Dhabi’s Healthy Living Strategy, Al Ain Farms Group is making this reduction a reality across its main portfolios.

We are not talking about expensive health foods you have to hunt down in specialty aisles. This is a direct upgrade to the exact everyday household staples that already have a permanent spot in your fridge.

The science behind the taste

Making a product less sweet without making it less appealing is no small feat. Hassan Safi, the Group CEO of Al Ain Farms Group, explained that the company is zeroing in on combining fresh product innovation with progressive reformulation. The objective is simple: make healthier options accessible without compromising on the taste and quality that people know and love. 

Why the timing might be important

This shift seems intentionally timed for the upcoming back-to-school season. As His Excellency Dr. Ahmed AlKhazraji, Executive Director: Healthy Living recently said "We want to ensure that healthy, nutritious food is within everyone's reach - because eating well should be easy for all,"

A greener, healthier capital

This dairy reformulation is actually part of a much larger, city-wide movement. It stands as one of 28 strategic initiatives currently under Abu Dhabi’s Healthy Living Strategy, which aims to reshape our food environments into spaces that naturally encourage wellness. It shows a massive shift in how local food manufacturers operate, setting a brand-new benchmark for responsible, science-led food creation right here in the UAE. 

For busy parents, this means one less thing to micro-manage. When the new school term starts, those lunchbox favourites will simply be a little less sweet, making the healthy choice the easy choice before the school bus even arrives. You can pack the school bags, zip up the lunchboxes, and send them out the door knowing that the capital's food system is finally working to make your job just a little bit simpler.