Description:
August 2004
Due to the recent interest in a number of reduced carbohydrate diets, a variety of carbohydrate claims and statements are appearing on foods sold in Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has published this information letter to remind the Canadian food industry (including importers, distributors, retailers and restauranteurs) of the current requirements for carbohydrate related claims under the former nutrition labelling regulations (former Regulations) and the new nutrition labelling regulations (new Regulations), which include the requirements for nutrient content claims and diet-related health claims.
The information contained in this letter refers to claims and statements made on food labels and in any type of advertising material, including broadcast, print, point-of-sale, and the internet.
On January 1, 2003, amendments to the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) were published making nutrition labelling mandatory on most prepackaged foods. Industry has until December 12, 2005 to bring their food labels and advertisements into compliance with these new requirements. Smaller companies, those with revenues from sales of food in Canada of less than $1 million between December 12, 2001 and December 11, 2002, have until December 12, 2007 to bring their labels into compliance.
During the transition period, food labels and advertisements may comply with either the former Regulations or the new Regulations, but may not use a combination of the two systems. The use of a Nutrition Facts table on a label with a claim under the former Regulations is not permitted.
Note that the labelling provisions under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations, including those for nutrition labelling and nutrient content claims, apply to all foods sold in Canada. This includes food, beverages, and alcoholic beverages, such as beer.
|
(0.0)
