Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for the invitation.
Studies dealing with healthy living habits are very important.
A few weeks ago my colleague Dr. Doig was here to talk about the health consequences of poor nutrition and lack of physical activity and the policies CMA has adopted to promote healthy living. Today I would like to expand on nutritional labelling and health claims on food and on the labelling of food regulated as natural health products.
Nutrition facts tables can be an important source of information, but many Canadians have difficulty interpreting them. A 2009 Health Canada review of research on nutrition labelling indicated that those with little nutritional knowledge had difficulty using the tables and were unable to relate the information they contain to their own dietary needs.
There has been an increase in the use of health claims on the front of packaging, expressed as slogans or logos such as Healthy Choice, as well as in disease reduction and nutrient content claims.
These studies have shown that foods carrying health-related claims are seen by consumers as healthier choices, but the myriad of different claims can be confusing and may draw attention away from less healthy characteristics of food or oversimplify nutritional messages.
Recognizing the concerns that were clearly raised by our colleagues from the dairy farmers, we believe that a standard, consistent, at-a-glance approach to front-of-package food labelling could reduce confusion and help consumers make informed dietary choices. The traffic-light front-of-package label currently in voluntary use in the U.K. is an example. The front-of-package labels on composite processed food use green, amber, and red to indicate low, medium, or high levels of nutrients most strongly associated with diet-related health risks: fat, saturated fat, sugars, and salt. Also included is a calorie count per serving and percentage daily amount information.
Research in the U.K. has shown that consumers generally understand these labels. Shoppers are most likely to use them when buying the product for the first time, to compare different products when shopping for children, when trying to control intake of certain ingredients such as salt or fat for health reasons, or when trying to lose weight. Not surprisingly, research in the U.K. and Canada also shows that those most likely to read nutrition labels are those who are already interested in healthy eating.
For this reason, labelling policy must be embedded in a broader nutritional policy that uses multiple instruments to foster education and interest in healthy eating and helps to ensure that Canadians have healthy food choices by, for example, regulating amounts of salt in processed foods.
In addition, physicians have become quite concerned about the recent tendency toward regulating fortified foods as natural health products.
The Food and Drugs Act effectively prevents products classified as food from being marketed as having medicinal benefits unless there is compelling scientific evidence that the claims are true and the products are safe. The same strong legislation does not apply to natural health products, which are regulated under a different act.
This is a concern, because a trend is emerging whereby manufacturers of products normally sold as food fortify their products with approved natural health products such as vitamins and minerals. Examples of these are energy drinks, vitamin-enhanced juice, power bars, gums, and candies. The manufacturer can then request federal approval to market the product as a health product in food format.
If such requests are approved, food labelling requirements no longer apply and health claims that would not be allowed under the Food and Drugs Act can be made. Without proper nutritional labelling it is difficult, if not impossible, for consumers to make informed food choices. This can be particularly troubling for those with special diets or health concerns. Furthermore, those misled by dubious health claims might be consuming empty calories or high amounts of fat or sodium with no corresponding benefit. The result is that the health of Canadians may then be compromised.
The CMA has called on Health Canada to require compelling evidence for health benefits before changing a product's regulatory status from food to natural health food, and for nutrition labelling for all foods regulated as a natural health product. Faced with an array of products and health claims and a barrage of advertising extolling their benefits, Canadians can find it very challenging to make healthier food choices.
To find our way through to the right choice, we need good nutritional information and the ability to access and understand this information.
Governments and health care providers share a responsibility to help Canadians make choices that will help them achieve and maintain good health.
The physicians of Canada want to work with government and with all Canadians to make a healthier Canada.
I welcome your questions.
Thank you.