I would like to thank the minister for being here today. I quite enjoyed your speech.
You mentioned safe and healthy food for Canadians. You said a great deal about safety, regulation, providing information and communications, but you did not discuss food in and of itself. Yet, in the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has ordered the American food industry to begin to gradually eliminate trans fats from processed food. I think this is a good measure.
In this country however, the government is not listening. Even in your own department, certain experts have recommended the regulation of food processing and ensuring such foods contain less fat and salt. I believe these measures would improve the health of Canadians. I am not talking simply about influencing their food choices. Here in Canada, our cereal contains much more salt than it does in the U.S., and the quantity of trans fats found in processed food is truly unbelievable.
Why have we not followed the U.S. example and that of many other countries by taking similar measures? When will we be able to implement such measures?