Nutrition Labels – Changes Proposed by the Government of Canada

Government of Canada announces proposed new nutrition labels and tools to promote healthier food choices

Improved Nutrition Facts table format and clearer labelling of sugar and serving sizes

Today, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, took a major step forward in giving Canadians the information they need to make healthy food choices for themselves and their families by unveiling several initiatives including proposed changes to nutritional labelling regulations.

The proposed labelling changes aim to make it easier for Canadians to read labels and the Nutrition Facts table. Mandating consistent serving sizes will make it easier to compare nutrient contents of similar foods, and make more informed choices when selecting foods for themselves and their families. The ingredient list on the proposed new label would also be easier to read.

The labelling changes respond to comments made by parents, consumers and health organizations and the food industry in earlier consultations held throughout 2014.

The Government of Canada is also breaking new ground in the labelling of sugars on foods. Proposed changes would give Canadians clear information about the sugars contained in the foods they eat. The proposed addition of a percentage daily value for sugar and changes to the way sugars are identified in the list of ingredients will make it easier to understand how much sugar is in a product, whether there is a little or a lot of sugar, and what the source of sugar is.

Minister Ambrose also announced new public education tools, including a My Food Guide mobile application and the Eat Well Plate, to help Canadians apply the dietary guidance of Canada’s Food Guide to build a healthy meal.

The Eat Well Plate will help Canadians visualize food proportions, and encourages them to make half their plate vegetables and fruit. The new My Food Guide mobile application will help Canadians access healthy eating information anytime, anywhere. The My Food Guide app allows individuals to create an easy-to-use customized Canada’s Food Guide and will help them understand Food Guide servings and types of foods to choose for a healthy diet.

Canadians will be consulted on the proposed regulatory changes to the nutrition information on food labels for a 75-day comment period, ending on August 26.  These changes are being published in Canada Gazette, Part I on June 13, 2015.