Evidence of meeting #41 for Health in the 39th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was products.
A recording is available from Parliament.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Thank you very much.
Before we start another round—and I know Madam Demers has another question and I want to give her time—I wonder if the committee would allow me to ask just a couple of questions that I have on this.
One, do McCain fries have a Health Check symbol? Are you part of the Health Check program?
5:10 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, McCain Foods Canada
On our french fries?
5:10 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, McCain Foods Canada
The low-fat fries.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
There's only one reason I'm asking that question. You said the cost of putting on the Health Check symbol was $150 million, was that it?
5:10 p.m.
President and Chief Executive Officer, McCain Foods Canada
No, I'm sorry. That was an industry figure.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
Maybe the right question is to Sally Brown.
For those companies that put the Health Check mark on the front of the package, what is the cost of that label? Do you know?
5:10 p.m.
Chief Executive Officer, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
It depends on the category and the size of the company.
Carol.
5:10 p.m.
Nutrition Consultant, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
I don't know the cost to join Health Check from the manufacturer's perspective. Depending on the size of the company and the population they sell to, it can start at $300 and it goes up to—
5:10 p.m.
Chief Executive Officer, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
No, it's not significant.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
The debate here is that we have a mandatory label that seems unclear. That was demonstrated by the questions asked by Ms. Kadis. When I read the label, what does it really mean to me as a consumer? Obviously Health Check is all about trying to give consumers a little more information.
5:10 p.m.
Chief Executive Officer, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
That's correct.
5:10 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
You wouldn't need Health Check if they had all the information on the label.
I think the debate the committee is wrestling with is how to make that clear. Whether it's a signpost or some kind of integrated sign on the front of the package to give the consumer better information, that's where we want to go. Whether we go with one check, two checks, or three checks on the front with your Health Check, maybe that might be a progressive way to go about giving that information. I don't know. Maybe you have some comments on that, but I think that's where we want to go.
The question I really have for you, Ms. Brown, comes about because this study is all about child obesity. If children followed the label that you have on Health Check products, would they become overweight?
5:10 p.m.
Nutrition Consultant, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
I don't think we could answer that question exactly. In the Health Check program, to qualify for Health Check and meet the criteria, you have to qualify based on CFIA's reference amount, as well as your labelled serving size. If you were to have a very large serving size, you wouldn't be able to meet our criteria. To some extent, then, we're controlling the serving size that is recommended on the nutrition facts table, and that is certainly going to help in terms of consumption.
In terms of childhood obesity, it's a much more complicated issue than a label program. Certainly healthy eating is going to help in terms of childhood obesity. If children choose healthier products, which they're going to be able to do easily by choosing products with a label that has evaluated the total product to make sure it is part of healthy eating, that is certainly going to be a very positive factor.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
5:15 p.m.
Nutrition Consultant, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
Yes, there's a definite serving size, and they have to meet the criteria for the serving size specified.
5:15 p.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rob Merrifield
It's interesting. In terms of the caloric intake, I suppose it depends on how many of the products they eat.
5:15 p.m.
Nutrition Consultant, Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
That's right. That's why it's very complicated.
5:15 p.m.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to raise three issues in one shot.
Mr. Schaeffer, I would appreciate if you could send us information on the number of products that you sell in the U.K. I would like to know the percentage of products that have a green light, a yellow light and a red light.
Ms. Brown, your program is based on Canada's Food Guide. Are you considering changes following the rewriting of the Guide? Furthermore, I would like to know what is you annual income from products evaluation and approval costs for the Health Check program?
Mr. Jeffrey, some members of our committee think it is not a good idea to consider trans fat regulation within our study on child obesity because trans fat is not the main cause for obesity among children. What do you think of the fact that it is not considered as a factor?
Mr. Schaeffer, you do not need to answer?
Ms. Brown and Mr. Jeffery, you have the floor.