Health Canada to revise Food Guide

Nov 10, 2016

The agriculture industry weighs in

By Jennifer Jackson

Agriculture industry representatives react to plans for a revised Canada Food Guide.

Health Canada will incorporate current scientific evidence on diet and health into the new guide. This federal department hopes the updated guide will help Canadians make healthy eating decisions.

“Everyone can agree that eating well, staying active and living a healthy lifestyle are important to reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes,” Jane Philpott, Canada’s minister of health, said in the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress on Oct. 22. “Our Government’s actions are aimed at ensuring positive and meaningful impacts on the overall health of Canadians for generations to come.”

Health Canada is inviting all Canadians to join in the conversation for the new guide. The federal department hopes health professionals, educators, and organization representatives will all be involved.

“The Canadian Horticultural Council (CHC) advocates for the development of a National Nutrition Policy to standardize and coordinate provincial and community nutrition programs,” says Rebecca Lee, executive director of CHC.

According to Lee, increased consumption of fruits and vegetables improves health, decreases the burden of chronic diseases, and improves economic growth in and beyond the produce sector.

“By buying fruits and vegetables from Canadian producers, Canadians are supporting the continued growth and success of one of Canada’s largest agri-food industries,” says Lee.

Ron Davidson, director of international trade, government and media relations for the Canadian Meat Council, hopes the revisions will be made with full consideration of collected data.

“In the United States, revisions are made after reporting to agriculture representatives,” says Davidson. “From our perspective, we like that model – it is supposed to be a consultative process.”

Davidson also outlines the importance of the meat industry to the Canadian economy.

“If you look at Canada manufacturing, food processing is the biggest component – (and) within the food processing sector, meat is the largest component,” says Davidson.

“We believe the industry has useful information,” for the guide revisions, says Davidson. He hopes meat will continue to be “well featured in Canada’s food guide.”

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