Minister Ambrose issues "What We Heard Report" from parents and launches online labelling tools

Information to help shape changes to food labelling in the future

OTTAWA, June 10, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, released the What We Heard report on food labelling (hyperlink to the Health Canada website), which summarizes feedback from parents and consumers who participated in recent consultations to improve food labels.

While many Canadians reported they find the information on current food labels useful, respondents also made a range of suggestions, such as improving the serving size information in the Nutrition Facts Table, and increasing education and awareness of food labelling for consumers and industry.

Today, the Minister also introduced an interactive tool on food labelling for consumers, which provides easy-to-understand and relevant information on how to read a food label, and announced a new labelling tool for industry, which provides clear guidance on labelling rules.

In the coming months, the Government will look at ways of improving food labels based on what was heard from parents, consumers and industry.

Quick Facts

• In the recent Speech from the Throne, the Government of Canada promised to improve and modernize Canada's food labelling system and consult with Canadian parents on how to improve the way nutritional information is presented on food labels.
• Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have a joint responsibility for food labelling in Canada.
• The What We Heard report incorporates feedback received during CFIA and Health Canada's roundtables, focus groups and online consultations that took place between June 2013 and April 2014.
• Canada is a world leader in the field of nutrition labelling and was one of the first countries to require mandatory nutrition labelling on pre-packaged foods.

Quotes

"Our Government will ensure Canadian parents have the information they need to better understand and use food labels to make healthier food choices. We will continue to listen to Canadians and take action to improve food labels."
Rona Ambrose
Minister of Health

Associated Links

• What We Heard Report
• Healthy Canadians - Serving Size
• Interactive Tool: Understanding a Food Label
• Food Labelling for Industry
• Food Labelling Modernization

SOURCE: Health Canada

For further information:

Michael Bolkenius
Office of the Honourable Rona Ambrose
Federal Minister of Health
[phone]

Health Canada
Media Relations
[phone]

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media Relations
[phone]

Health Canada news releases are available on the Internet at: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/media