Canadian Government Proposes Change In Nutrition Labels
By Sam Lewis
In an effort to make data on food packaging more accessible and easily understood, the Canadian government is seeking feedback on proposed regulatory changes to food packaging
Canada’s Minister of Health, Rona Ambrose, recently announced a chain of online, public discussions that enable the country’s citizens to offer input or proposed labeling changes. According to Ambrose, the move comes at the request of many Canadian consumers. “Earlier this year, our Government consulted with parents and consumers on ways to improve the way information is presented on food labels. Today, we are proposing changes to the nutrition information on food labels, based on what we heard,” says Ambrose. “These changes will make it easier to read and understand labels and help Canadians make healthy food choices for themselves and their families.”
The changes will affect the format of the Nutrition Facts table, the list of ingredients, what nutrients are needed to be show, and suggested Daily Values of each ingredient. The way ingredients are listed and grouped together will also be impacted. For instance, one proposed change suggests listing all sugars together so consumers can more easily discover how much sugar is in a product and make a choice whether or not to buy and consume.
How Beneficial Are The FDA's Proposed Nutrition Labels?
Many consumer advocacy groups, along with some health-conscience groups have shown support for the propose shift in labeling. The president and CEO of the Canadian Diabetes Association, Richard Blickstead, says the labeling change could benefit consumers stressed by nutritional limitations. “Easy-to-understand nutrition labels help people make informed choices about the foods they eat, that are vital for preventing type 2 diabetes, managing diabetes, and preventing complications,” says Blickstead.
Additionally, if the changes are implemented, new guidelines will be established for food companies to make serving sizes a necessity of the Nutrition Facts. The Canadian government will continue to hear the public’s voice regarding this issue until Sept 11, when the comment period closes.