On Parliament Hill

Healthy eating is an important factor in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and reducing the risk for chronic diseases. As it stands, over two million Canadians are living with diabetes and nearly two million have heart disease or are living with the effects of a stroke. Cardiovascular disease is one of the top contributors to health care costs in Canada, and has a major impact on Canadian families.

Unfortunately, these health issues are not just limited to adults. With one out of three children in Canada being overweight or obese and only 4.4 percent of children meeting Canadian physical activity guidelines, we certainly have cause for concern. Children are being diagnosed with health problems that we used to only see in adults, such as Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.

Our Government recognizes this problem and is taking measures to help parents make informed decisions regarding their families’ health and diet.

That’s why on April 15th, I invited a group of parents to my office to discuss their concerns and recommendations surrounding food labelling. This meeting was part of a Canada-wide consultation regarding nutritional information on food labels as was promised in the Throne Speech.

This was an opportunity for me to listen to parents in our community and to better understand how they use nutrition information on food labels. We all want what’s best for our families and providing proper information on food labels will help parents to make nutritious choices for themselves and their families. The issues and ideas raised at this round table were passed on to the federal Health Minister (the Honourable Rona Ambrose) and will help guide future nutritional labelling practices.

Canada was one of the first countries in the world to require mandatory nutrition labelling on pre-packaged foods. This means that these foods must have a Nutrition Facts table in a consistent format that lists the amount of calories as well as 13 core nutrients such as sodium and fat.

Since mandatory nutrition labelling came into full effect in 2007, our Government has continued to look at how to make the nutritional information on food labels clearer and more useful to Canadians, both in terms of content and presentation.

Food labels are an important public health tool. They list the best before date, ingredients, and common allergens in foods. The food label may also inform the consumer about the nutritional quality and health effects of a food.

Although we are pleased with the progress, our Government recognizes that there is much more work to be done. That is why our Government is taking the time to hear from parents on this important issue.