Canadian Health Minister Announces Food Guide Update, New Food Labeling Rules

New guidelines are intended to curb obesity throughout Canada.

October 25, 2016

OTTAWA – The federal government in Canada is working to update the Canada Food Guide to curb obesity, reports The Canadian Press. Health Minister Jane Philpott announced a consultation process this week to update the nutrition guide, which she calls ineffective, with new recommendations and scientific evidence.

Philpott told the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress in Montreal she recognizes the changes will have an impact on the food industry, but that they are necessary. "We need to make choices that are good for Canadians, that will support them in making healthy choices, and we will obviously make sure that we will do that in a way that allows industry time to catch up," Philpott said.

Revising the Canada Food Guide is part of a multiyear, healthy eating strategy that will include regulations to eliminate transfats and reduce the amount of salt in processed foods, writes the news source, adding that Philpott said the government is following international efforts to impose a sugary beverage tax, but so far has not decided to introduce a similar regulation in Canada.

In March, a Senate committee study found Canada's Food Guide should be updated to address obesity in the country, noting that Canadians are not eating enough vegetables, fruits, whole grains, or milk and milk-alternatives, while certain nutrients such as calcium and fiber are under-consumed, writes the news source.

The Food Guide revision on Health Canada's website will include an online consultation with health professionals for all Canadians until December 8. Canada’s Health Department plans to issue updated dietary guidelines by the end of 2018.

The news source adds that other initiatives include updated nutrition labels on pre-packaged foods and restricting marketing for children.

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