Labelling and Task Force on Trans Fat
Director, Bureau of Nutritional Sciences
Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada
Update on Canada’s Labelling Regulations and the Progress of the Canadian Task Force on Trans Fat Health Canada, along with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, has assembled the Trans Fat Task Force, comprised of various stakeholders (including representatives from the food processing and food service industries) to develop concrete recommendations and strategies for effectively reducing, as much as possible, industrial trans fat in the Canadian food supply.
As a first step, and to help consumers make healthy choices, Canada has become the first country in the world to introduce mandatory nutrition labelling of trans fat for prepackaged foods. These new labelling regulations will require that calories and the content of 13 core nutrients, including trans fat, be listed on the labels of most prepackaged foods by December 12, 2005. This action has already prompted a number of food companies to reduce, or even eliminate, trans fat in their products. While nutrition labelling is not mandatory in food service establishments, the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association is working with its members to develop guidelines for voluntary provision of nutrition information to consumers in chain restaurants.
The interim report of the Trans Fat Task Force was released August 31, 2005 and provided the Minister of Health with recommendations, focusing on public education, labelling and some possible immediate opportunities for the food service and food processing industries to reduce trans fats. The summary is available on the Health Canada website.
This presentation reviews trans fats label requirements and provide insights into the Task Force’s findings and recommendations.
