Canada outlines plans to rid food of trans fat ‘by next summer’

From: FoodBev

Health Canada has outlined plans to stop the food industry using partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs) – the main source of industrially produced trans fats – by next summer.

According to the public health body, the proposals would ‘help protect the health of all Canadians’ and will undergo a period of consultation until June. Once the regulation is finalised, the ban on PHOs would come into effect next summer, giving manufacturers time to reformulate their products.

Prohibiting the use of PHOs in all foods sold in Canada represents a significant and final step in Health Canada’s efforts to reduce trans fats in the Canadian food supply to the lowest possible level. It builds on previous measures, which include mandatory nutrition labelling of trans fats and setting voluntary maximum limits for trans fats in processed foods, and is an ‘important part’ of the Canadian government’s Healthy Eating Strategy.

Among other things, the strategy aims to improve the availability of information on healthy eating, strengthen requirements for labelling and health claims and improve the nutritional quality of foods.

The Canadian government’s minister of health, Jane Philpott, said: “Through the Healthy Eating Strategy, our government is working to make the healthier choice the easier choice. By prohibiting PHOs, we are removing the largest source of industrial trans fats from Canada’s food supply and helping reduce the risk of heart disease.”

 

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