0
Health Canada is introducing new nutrition labelling regulations for packaged foods requiring a symbol on the front of packages indicating that a food is high in saturated fat, sugars, and/or sodium. The new front-of-package nutrition symbol includes a magnifying glass, intended to capture people’s attention and act as a quick and easy visual cue to identify foods high in these three nutrients. The regulations will come into effect on January 1, 2026.
Exemptions from the front-of-package nutrition symbol include foods that do not require a Nutrition Facts table. Therefore single-ingredient whole meats will not be required to have the new labeling.
Raw, single ingredient ground meats are also exempt. While these products do have a Nutrition Facts table, they are of similar nutritional value as whole cuts. Requiring a symbol on ground meats and poultry and not on whole cuts of meat may lead people in Canada to erroneously believe that all whole cuts are healthier than ground. In certain cases, these exemptions will be lost, such as if a claim is made or if anything is added to the meat like salt, saturated fat, or even spices.
General prepackaged foods that meet or exceed 15% daily value of saturated fat, sugars, or sodium will require front-of-package labeling, which could include deli meats.
June 30, 2022/ Government of Canada/ Canada.
https://www.canada.ca
