However, the minced meat will be excluded from the labels, as groups of breeders opposed the Health Canada proposal earlier this month. The government says the labels are intended to help Canadians eat healthier, as so-called “public health concern nutrients” 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, healthier choices,” said Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos. Health Canada said the new labels will complement, rather than replace, the more detailed nutritional information usually found on the back of food packaging. They will generally be placed in prepackaged foods that contain more than 15 percent of the recommended daily allowance of saturated fats, sugars, or sodium. For prepacked meals, the warnings will only apply to products with more than 30 percent of the recommended daily intake.
Minced meat is excluded from the warning
The proposed labels came to the forefront of the controversy earlier this month when a group of breeders opposed the government’s plan to include warnings about minced meat. At the time, the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association said the policy would “insult” the minced meat and make people think it was a less healthy choice than whole pieces. Now, Health Canada has excluded minced meat from warning labels, even if it is high in fat or salt. The product was considered to have health benefits despite the “nutrients of concern”, along with milk, many cheeses and fruits. “Canadian families rely on ground beef as a nutritious and affordable staple food and a major contributor to food security. We are pleased with Health Canada’s decision to remove minced meat from its misleading warning label requirement,” said the president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Reg. Schellenberg. written statement. Sugar and salt packages will also be excluded, as the government said adding labels to such products would be unnecessary. The rules are set to take effect in early 2026, something the government said would give companies plenty of time to manage the cost of adjusting their packaging. Health Canada will also limit the amount of “voluntary health-related information” such as labels declaring a product high in fiber.
