Canadian Health Check Program Revamps Front-of-Packaging Nutrition Labeling
The Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Health Check™ program has reportedly revised its front-of-package (FOP) labeling scheme to better reflect current nutritional guidelines. Similar to the Smart Choices® system recently discontinued in the United States, Health Check allows subscribing manufacturers to use its FOP logo on products that meet specific nutritional requirements. Partly in response to criticism leveled at its U.S. counterpart, the non-profit organization has announced plans to disqualify any cookies, puddings, snack foods, flans, or frozen dairy, soy or tofu desserts from entering the program after December 28, 2009. Health Check has also set new salt, sugar and fat limits for endorsed products, stipulating that trans fat cannot comprise more than 5 percent of the total fat content. In addition, soups in the restaurant program must reduce sodium levels to 480 mg per 250 mL by November 1, 2010. “The Health Check nutrient criteria developed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s registered dietitians are based on Canada’s Food Guide and also reflect the latest scientific evidence, labeling regulations, nutrition trends, eating habits of Canadians, market realities, and technology,” stated the organization, which requires all new candidates to adhere to these rules from the outset. See FoodNavigator-USA.com, November 6, 2009.
