| The rise in functional and health-focused bakery products on supermarket shelves has helped fend off the attack from low-carb diets. Growing consumer interest in nutrition and health is driving the demand in many food sectors for health claim labeling such as for whole grain, high fibre and no trans fats. Foods imported from US and other countries have taken advantage of health claim labeling to advertise the health benefits of their products. Few Alberta companies are using health claims to market their products and as a result may be left behind. Kraft has noted that when they reformulated their Triscuit® crackers to contain no trans fats sales doubled in less than a year.
Depending on your specific product, you may be able to make a claim on fat, fibre or other nutrients.
Dietary Fat Claims
One diet-related health claim is permitted with respect to the trans and saturated fatty acid content of a food. The two variations of the prescribed wording of this claim are as follows:
- “A healthy diet low in saturated and trans fats may reduce the risk of heart disease. (Naming the food) is free of saturated and trans fats.”
- “A healthy diet low in saturated and trans fats may reduce the risk of heart disease. (Naming the food) is low in saturated and trans fats.”
In order to make the claims, the food must also meet other requirements as outlined in section 8.4.5. of the 2003 Guide to Food Labeling and Advertising, which can be found at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/guide/ch8e.shtml
Three nutrient content claims can be made on a label or in an advertisement for a food with respect to its trans fatty acid content:
- Free of trans fatty acids
- Reduced in trans fatty acids
- Lower in trans fatty acids
Dietary Fibre Claims
Comparative claims for dietary fibre may be made under the conditions described for "More fibre" claims in Table 7-13, item d) on back page. The claims are not restricted to fibre from the same source (i.e. total fiber content from all ingredients used to calculate fibre amount in item).
Nutrient content claims for dietary fibre may be made for foods, which are considered to be sources of dietary fibre. Both traditional and some novel fibre sources may be eligible for fibre claims.
Abbreviated Summary Table of Permitted Fibre Claims Table 7-13
“Source of fibre” "contains fibre"
"provides fibre" or "made with fibre" | The food contains 2 g or more of fibre per reference amount and serving of stated size… |
High source of fibre "high fibre"
"high in fibre" | The food contains 4 g or more … |
| Very high source of fibre "very high in fibre”, "fibre rich" "rich in fibre" | The food contains 6 g or more … |
More fibre "more fibre”,” higher fibre"
"higher in fibre" | The food contains at least:
i) 25% more fibre, totaling at least 1 g or more, if no fibre or fibre source is identified in the statement or claim… & ii) the reference food of the same food group or the similar reference food… |
Source: 2003 Guide to Food Labeling and Advertising
The terms "good" and "excellent", because they imply a judgment regarding the nature and value of the fibre in addition to quantity, are not permitted. Note: the spelling "fibre" or "fiber" are both acceptable in the English statements or claims.
Other Dietary Claims
Flours and bakery products use enriched ingredients with added B-vitamins or additional sources of essential nutrients such as Omega-3 fatty acids. Quantitative claims may be used on the label if they meet requirements listed in Table 7-8: Omega-3 and Omega-6 Polyunsaturates Claims within the 2003 Guide to Food Labeling Advertising. An example of a quantitative claim would be: Source of Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.
Reminder: In order to make a claim about the vitamin or mineral nutrient content, the food must contain at least 5% of the RDI (recommended daily intake) per serving of stated size for that vitamin or mineral nutrient. Any product choosing to make a claim will be required to have a Nutrition Facts Table on their product.
Consumers are looking for whole grains and products with no preservatives. Many products can take advantage of this trend and highlight these statements as well.
The Canadian Food Guide recommends that Canadians choose 5-12 servings of grain products per day. Another option could be to include this statement along with the number of servings contained in the product.
Nutrition claims in the US and other countries are based on country specific regulations and often differ from Canadian nutrition labeling regulations; therefore, Canadian nutrition labels cannot be used elsewhere and vice versa. For example there is a specific health claim, which can be used for barley and the prevention of heart disease in the US, but not here in Canada. The Glycemic Index (GI) is also being permitted in other countries, but not in Canada. Please refer to specific country nutrition labeling regulations if considering exporting products.
The following websites are excellent resources, which provide further detailed information:
Canada’s Food Guide
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/myguide-monguide/index-eng.php
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/guide/toce.shtml
Canadian Nutrient File, 2005
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/nutrition/fiche-nutri-data/index_e.html
For more information or assistance please contact: Shirzad Chunara MHSc. RD
Processed Food Branch, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development 780-422-2550 |