In yesterday’s post, I highlighted Health Canada’s proposed changes to the nutrition labelling regulations involving sugar. But there is so much more great news to share about the proposals.
Check out all the info below for a taste.
Here are a few highlights:
• Serving sizes will be standardized
You will no longer need to use a calculator to compare the nutrients in similar products. On current labels, serving sizes on similar products can be different so making comparisons is time consuming. We’ll no longer have to figure out the differences in sodium in a half cup serving of a prepared broth and one where the serving is listed as 2/3 of a cup.
It will hopefully put an end to nonsense such as a cereal label which lists the serving size as 24 pieces. Do you think anyone actually ever counted this out?
• % Daily Values will be updated
Well, they’re only 30 years old and still on food packages and they are supposed to tell you how much of each nutrient you’re supposed to consume. And considering how much nutritional science and nutrient recommendations have changed during this time period, it is ridiculous that it’s taken so long. But hey, they’re changing them and hopefully to what’s currently being recommended. The Daily Value for sodium, though, may still lead consumers into consuming too much of this mineral.
• Vitamin D and potassium are being added to the core nutrient panel
These two nutrients are in short supply in the diets of Canadians so it’s great to see that Health Canada is drawing attention to this.
Potassium is a major player in maintaining health blood pressure readings. But it’s important to note that many of the foods which will supply this critical mineral won’t have a nutrition label. Fruits and vegetables should be our main source of this nutrient but it may be helpful to see the Nutrition Facts box on products such as milk or canned legumes to encourage their consumption.
As for vitamin D, to be honest, it’s tough to meet your needs with food alone (unless you’re eating lots of fatty fish) but by seeing this on the label, it might call attention to your need for a vitamin D supplement.
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Will you be providing input to Health Canada about their proposed changes? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
Enlightened Eater 
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