Canada will require companies to add nutrition warnings to the front of prepackaged foods with high levels of saturated fat, sugar or sodium in an effort to help grocery shoppers make healthier choices at a glance.
But ground beef will be exempt from the labels, after rancher groups opposed Health Canada’s proposal earlier this month.
The government says the labels are intended to help Canadians eat healthier, as so-called “nutrients of public health concern” have been linked to conditions such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
“These regulations are designed to make it easier for us to make informed and healthier decisions,” said Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos.
Health Canada said the new labels will supplement, rather than replace, the more detailed nutrition information typically found on the back of food packaging.
They will generally be placed on prepackaged foods that contain more than 15 percent of the suggested daily value of saturated fat, sugars, or sodium. For prepackaged foods, the warnings will only appear on items with more than 30 percent of the recommended daily intake.
Warning-Exempt Ground Beef
The proposed labels were at the center of controversy earlier this month when a group of ranchers opposed the government’s plan to put warnings on ground beef.
At that time, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association said the policy would “vilify” ground beef and make people think it’s a less healthy option than whole cuts.
Now, Health Canada has exempted ground beef from warning labels, even if it’s high in fat or salt. The product was considered to have health benefits despite “nutrients of interest”, along with milk, many cheeses and fruit.
“Canadian families rely on ground beef as a nutritious and affordable staple food and an important contributor to food security. We are pleased with Health Canada’s decision to prevent ground beef from requiring a misleading warning label,” said the chairman. of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Reg Schellenberg, in a statement. written statement.
Sugar and salt packets will also be exempt, as the government said including labels on such products would be redundant.
The rules will take effect in early 2026, which the government says gives companies enough time to manage the costs of adjusting their packaging.
Health Canada will also limit the size of “voluntary health-related information,” such as labels that proclaim an item to be high in fiber.
