On 7/20/22 new nutrition information rules introduced by Health Canada take effect, with warnings on thefront-of-pack nutrition labeling (FOPNL) of food products with excessive levels of saturated fat, sugar and/or salt (sodium).
The warning is displayed with a symbol depicting a magnifying glass in order to draw consumers’ attention to the nutritional profiles of foods. And thus help residents in Canada to make ‘more informed food choices’. (1)
1) Summary nutrition information on the front label (FOPNL). Scenario
Nutrition labeling on the label front, as noted, (2) has been the subject of special recommendations by WHO(World Health Organization). In the face of a
Global Syndemic
– epidemic of serious,Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) related to obesity and overweight, unbalanced diets and malnutrition-affecting the entire planet. With serious impact on lifespan and quality of life, including in Europe and Italy (3,4).
2) FOPNL, the top-rated systems.
The need to reduce intakes of saturated fats, sugars and sodium (from salt and other sources, e.g., sodium glutamate) – in addition to overall energy intake – is promoted through appropriate label information, with different approaches in different countries around the world. Some examples:
– NutriScore. Civil society is fighting against Big Food lobbies to get this FOPNL system-one of the most effective, according to science (5,6)-to be mandatory on the label front of the generality of food products in the EU,
– healthy logo. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in the U.S., is working on revising a FOPNL labeling system designed to favorably distinguish nutritionally balanced foods (7)
– Mexico, Chile, Peru, and Uruguay have introduced visually striking white-on-black warning labels to distinguish junk food at a glance. (8)
2) Health Canada, nutrition policies
Canada, like many other countries, is experiencing an endemic and increasing prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) associated with unbalanced diets. Health Canada has therefore strengthened its nutrition policies, on both fronts of:
– Promote the nutrition education already offered through the useful program Food Guide,
– Introduce a FOPNL system inspired by successful experiences in Latin America. Referring to the example of Chile, where warnings on the label front have had a significant impact on food consumption and the reformulation of products to be healthy (-37% sodium and -27% sugar).
2.1) Foods subject to label warnings.
Health Canada
requires that the symbol with warnings be included on prepackaged foods subject to nutrition declaration whose levels of saturated fat, sugar and/or sodium (salt) in a ‘reference amount‘ – or in the serving size, whichever is higher – exceed certain percentages of the reference daily intakes(Daily Value):
– 15% saturated fat, sugar or sodium in the generality of prepackaged foods,
– 10% in packaged foods in small quantities (≤ 30 g/ml. Ex. sweet and salty snacks ),
– 30% in pre-packaged main dishes (≥ 200 g, 170 g if intended for children age 1-4. E.g. ready meals, pizza). (9)
The ‘reference amount‘ is the average amount of food a person takes in on a single eating occasion. Portion size is the amount of food used to calculate the numbers in the nutrition facts table and is based on the reference amount.
3) FOPL in Canada. Exemptions
The Canadian symbol with nutrition warnings is essentially aimed at processed packaged foods and ultra-processed foods. Health Canada has therefore introduced three categories of exemptions:
3.1) Health-related exemptions.
Some foods are exempt from label warnings (FOPNL) because of their recognized health benefits to the entire population or vulnerable subpopulations:
– whole or cut vegetables and fruits, fresh, frozen, canned or dried. Whole and part-skimmed milk (2% fat), eggs,
– Foods with a healthy fat profile (e.g., vegetable oils, nuts, fatty fish) and
their combinations. Except in the case of preparations with ingredients containing saturated fat, sugar and/or sodium,
– foods that are important sources of ‘insufficient nutrients,’ that is, not readily available in other foods and of which most people in Canada do not have sufficient intake. For example, many cheeses and yogurts are exempt from the requirement to display warnings about saturated fat and naturally occurring sugars (e.g., lactose, not also added sugars). Other cheeses are exempt from the sodium-related symbol as long as they provide a certain intake. Exemptions subject to reassessment after 10 years,
– foods formulated to meet the needs of specific populations, e.g., foods for athletes, individual rations for military personnel.
3.2) Technical exemptions
Other foods are exempted because they are not subject to nutrition declaration. For example:
– Whole meats, poultry and raw fish (including ground, single-ingredient),
– foods sold at farmers’ markets,
– foods provided in food services in very small packages (e.g. packages of bread and crackers, single-serving creams, and accompanying coffee chocolates).
3.3) ‘Practical’ exemptions
A third set of exemptions applies to ingredients for home cooking, which the NOVA system places in the second of four categories (10) used to distinguish foods:
– sugar, honey, maple syrup,
– Table salt and seasoned salt,
– Butter and other fats and oils.
Interim conclusions
The food industry has until 1.1.2026 to adjust its labels for sales in Canada. And so to reformulate products to reduce the impact on sales-and on the health of the population-of warnings that might otherwise appear on the label front of much of the packaged food products that now contribute a 60 percent share of Canadians’ diets.
Dario Dongo
Notes
(1) Health Canada. Front-of-package nutrition labelling. 6/30/22, https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2022/06/front-of-package-nutrition-labelling.html
(2) Dario Dongo.
Codex Alimentarius, the NutriScore and the WHO guidelines.
. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 21.9.21,
(3) Sabrina Bergamini, Dario Dongo. Obesity, childhood obesity, and marketing. WHO Europe 2022 report. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 16.6.22,
(4) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. Ultraprocessed food, disease and premature mortality. Study in Italy. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 11.12.21,
(5) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. How to solve the nutritional conundrum? News on the label front, review and outlook. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 29.12.20,
(6) Dario Dongo, Andrea Adelmo Della Penna. NutriScore, consumer health prevails over agribusiness lobby. Petition and insights. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 18.5.22,
(7) Dario Dongo.
US, FDA working on a healthy logo to be applied to the front of labels.
. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 21.5.22,
(8) Dario Dongo.
Mexico, off to nutritional warnings on the label front.
. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 10.2.20,
(9) Health Canada. Front-of-package nutrition labelling. 6/30/22, https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-labelling-changes/front-package.html
(10) Dario Dongo. NOVA classification, natural and ultra-processed foods. Friends and enemies of health. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade). 16.9.20.
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
