Health Canada has proposed changes to the nutrition information on food labels based on input from parents and consumers, as well as the latest scientific data. The changes, announced in late July, are intended to make it easier for consumers to read and understand labels and make healthy food choices. Health Canada will accept comments on the proposed changes through September 11.

IDFA has prepared a document for members that compares the proposed Canadian labeling changes with current U.S. nutrition label regulations and proposed revisions to the Nutrition Facts panel by the Food and Drug Administration. According to IDFA’s analysis, the Canadian proposal is similar to FDA’s proposed changes, requiring labels to declare calories more prominently and include the amount of added sugars. Health Canada also would require the declaration of vitamin D and potassium, modify daily values (DV) for other nutrients and update reference amounts for serving sizes, including ice cream.

For more details, members may log in to access the chart.

IDFA would like to hear from members to determine if the association should submit comments to Health Canada about the proposed changes. Contact Cary Frye, vice president of regulatory and scientific affairs for IDFA, at cfrye@idfa.org or Michelle Matto, IDFA’s consultant on labeling and nutrition, at amfoodnutrition@gmail.com.

For reference, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has released two reports, Health Canada Consults on Nutrition Information on Food Labels and Nutrition Labeling – Additional Consultation Documents.  

For more information, contact Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org.