Food labels
Canadians are being asked to weigh in on proposed regulatory changes to the way food is labelled.
An online public comment period will inform the federal government on its decision to change nutritional labelling to assist consumers in making healthy food choices.
Proposed changes include mandating consistent serving sizes to facilitate easy comparisons; a simple to read ingredient list; and clear information about sugars contained in the food including the source of the sugar.
In announcing the proposed changes, Minister of Health Rona Ambrose said, “Our government is breaking new ground with our proposal on the labelling of sugars on foods sold in Canada. Nowhere else in the world will consumers have the kind of information Canadians will have about the sugars contained in the foods they eat. This information will help them understand how much sugar is in a product, whether it’s a little or a lot of sugar, and where the sugar comes from.”
The government is also introducing public education tools My Food Guide mobile application and Eat Well Plate. With these tools it will be more convenient for people to follow Canada’s Food Guide and build a healthy meal.
There is a 75-day comment period on these changes ending August 26. To access information and comment on the changes, readers can visit the government's website.
