WATCH: Changes are coming to the fine print on food labels that should make it easier to see just how much sugar and other unhealthy stuff is in pre-packaged food. Shirlee Engel explains.
Group sugars together, standardize serving sizes in similar products and list ingredients and nutrients. Health Canada is proposing a string of changes to food nutrition labels that it says would make them easier to read for consumers.
The way ingredients are listed would change so that sugars are grouped together, amounts of added sugar are clearly labelled, and a nutrients list must appear in the table, according to these suggested guidelines. If you’re shopping at the grocery store and you want to compare similar products, their serving sizes would also match up making it easier for you to choose which is the best option.
“Earlier this year, our government consulted with parents and consumers on ways to improve the way information is presented on food labels. Today, we are proposing changes to the nutrition information on food labels, based on what we heard,” Health Minister Rona Ambrose said in a government statement.
“Today we are launching a consultation to hear directly from parents and consumers on the proposed changes,” she said.
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Online public consultations are now open so that parents, families and consumers can weigh in. They’ll run for 60 days between July 14 to Sept. 11. Join the discussion here.
The ingredients would also be easier to read – consistently in a box, black type on a white background and with a minimum font size.
Ultimately, the changes are supposed to help consumers make informed decisions about what they eat.
On the federal agency’s website, it lists the proposed changes. Take a look at the changes here:
(Images courtesy Health Canada/hc-sc.gc.ca)
carmen.chai@globalnews.ca
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