What You Need to Know About New Nutrition Label Regulations
As the popularity of fortified and functional foods grows, clear and accurate labelling becomes essential for consumer safety and informed choices. In Canada, supplemented food labelling has recently undergone important changes under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR). These updates aim to ensure that Canadians can easily identify and understand the contents and health impacts of the supplemented foods they consume.
What Are Supplemented Foods?
Supplemented foods are products that have added ingredients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or caffeine that are not usually present. These include energy drinks, enhanced waters, snack bars, and other fortified products.
Key Features of Supplemented Food Labelling
Under the new regulations, any product categorized as a supplemented food must follow strict Supplemented Food Labelling requirements. These include:
- Supplemented Food Facts Table (SFFt): Similar to the standard nutrition label Canada consumers are familiar with, the SFFt provides information specific to added supplemental ingredients like caffeine or taurine, in addition to the usual nutrients.
- Cautionary Statements: If a product is not suitable for certain populations (such as children, pregnant women, or those with health conditions), warning statements must be clearly visible on the label.
- List of Added Ingredients: All supplemented ingredients must be declared, ensuring transparency about what’s in the product.
- Daily Intake Limits: Some labels must also include maximum daily intake instructions to prevent overconsumption of added nutrients.
Why These Changes Matter
These labelling updates are part of Canada’s commitment to food safety under the Safe Food for Canadians Act. They help protect consumers by ensuring they are aware of what they’re consuming and can make informed dietary choices, especially when it comes to potentially sensitive ingredients.
Whether you’re a manufacturer or a health-conscious consumer, understanding the new supplemented food labelling rules is crucial. With clearer, standardized labels, Canadians can confidently navigate the expanding world of fortified foods while staying informed and safe.
Source URL- https://cfcagency.weebly.com/supplemented-food-labelling.html
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