Canada's Major New Regulation Implemented Early, Supermarket Foods Feature "Warning" Labels!

According to CBC, the front-of-package nutrition warning labels introduced by Health Canada have already appeared on store shelves, six months before the official implementation deadline for the food industry.

The label was first announced in 2022, and it is a black-and-white design intended to alert consumers whether a certain food contains high levels of sugar, sodium, or saturated fat. Health Canada stated that excessive intake of these components may increase the risk of stroke, obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and certain cancers.

The new labeling criteria state that if a food contains 15% or more of the daily recommended intake of sugar, saturated fat, or sodium, it must be labeled.

Health Canada said this labeling system was designed to help consumers make informed choices quickly while shopping and to support health professionals in educating the public about nutrition.

Nutritionist Brittany Brown said: "Currently, it only serves as a nutritional warning, informing consumers that the food has high levels of sodium, saturated fat, and sugar, but does not provide more detailed information."

Although the food industry in Canada has a grace period until January 1, 2026, to fully implement this regulation, some products have already started to carry the labels.

Health Canada noted that the label applies to pre-packaged foods, but there are also some exceptions.

For example, regular milk, plain yogurt, and cheese are exempt because they are rich in calcium, which is beneficial for bone health and helps prevent osteoporosis.

Raw ground beef or poultry made from a single ingredient is also exempt to avoid giving the impression that it is less nutritious than whole cuts of meat.

In addition, basic seasonings such as butter, sugar, and salt are exempt. Some technical reasons may also lead to exemptions, such as foods with very small packaging.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836567499023372/

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