The Evolution of Nutrition Labels- Building Trust and Transparency

Dan ClarkDirectorBusiness Data ModellerGS1 Global

Wednesday May 1, 2019

Charmaine KuranSection HeadNutrition Regulations and Standards DivisionBureau of Nutritional SciencesHealth Canada

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Daniel Clark

Director, Business Data Modeller

GS1 Global

Charmaine Kuran

Section Head, Nutrition Regulations and Standards Division Bureau of Nutritional Sciences, Health Canada

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What’s Going On Out There

In The World Of Food These Days?

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• Food Waste

• Inventory Management

• Traceability

• Recalls

• Consumer’s Desire for More Product

Information

• More Regulatory Impact on Marketplace

• New Food Guide Information

Industry Trends

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Healthy Eating Strategy

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GS1 Keys

GTIN

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GS1 Keys

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Global Trade Item Number (GTIN):

The GS1 Identification Key used to identify trade items. The key comprises a GS1

Company Prefix, an Item Reference and Check Digit. (taken from:GS1 General Specifications v17.1)

Example: GTIN-12

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GS1 Basic

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What is a Global Trade Item Number (GTIN)?

Symbology: Machine Language

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GTINs

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What can you do with them?

GTINs can be used to:

✓ Track inbound stock and reception of same

✓ Movement of stock from warehouse to floor

✓ Increase point-of-Sale (POS) activity

✓ Monitor current inventory and track trends

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GLN

GS1 Keys

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GLN

GS1 Keys

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SSCC

GS1 Keys

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SSCC

GS1 Keys

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GS1 Keys

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GTIN Management Tools

When to change your GTINs

▪ GTIN Allocation Assistant

▪ Plain Language Labelling

▪ Formulation Changes

▪ Format Changes

▪ Branding

NUTRITION LABELLING

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Updates to Nutrition Facts Tables

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Front-of-package nutrition labelling

• Solicited feedback from all interested Canadians on the design of the

proposed front-of package nutrition symbol

– Approximately 16,000 Canadians shared their views on the symbols

• Commissioned a high quality, scientific consumer research

– This study was done in a grocery-store setting with real food products

– The objective was to evaluate effectiveness of front-of-package symbol as a source

of quick and easy guidance when making food choices and to inform refinements to

regulatory requirements (size, location, etc.)

• Consulted on the proposed regulations

– Approximately 220 submissions received

List of Ingredients & Allergens

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REMINDER: Priority allergens in Canada which must be declared include – crustaceans and molluscs, eggs, fish, milk, mustard, peanuts, sesame, soya, tree nuts (e.g. almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts,….), wheat and triticale PLUS gluten and sulphites

Use of partially hydrogenated oils is now prohibited in Canada!

The Current Sodium Initiative

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2017 evaluation of sodium levels in foods

Objective:

• Estimate the sodium levels in Canadian prepackaged foods and assess industry progress against the voluntary sodium targets established in 2012

Methodology:

• Selected food labels were collected between February and June of 2017 based on a sampling plan developed by Health Canada’s statisticians.

• Label data from 10,500 products were inputted, analysed, adjusted for market share, and assessed against the sodium reduction targets.

• SWA values for each category were used to assess which phased targets for sodium reduction had been met.

• In addition, each product was assessed against the ML target for its category and the percentage of categories where at least 90% of products had sodium levels below the ML was reported.

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Packaged Foods:

• Setting updated sodium reduction targets for packaged foods

o Soliciting feedback from industry and other stakeholders on successful strategies and outstanding challenges

• Developing a mechanism for industry to publically post their commitments to sodium reduction

• Implementing a more active monitoring and evaluation program

Restaurant and Foodservices:

• Develop baseline of sodium levels in restaurant foods

• Work collaboratively with stakeholders to develop sodium reduction targets for the restaurant and foodservice sector over the next year

Next Steps

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Canada’s food guide

• At-a-glance presentation of food choices and eating habits.

• An interactive, mobile-responsive online resource that is also printer-friendly.

• Online entry point to Canada’s healthy eating recommendations.

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Thank you for you time today

• For information on Health Canada’s Healthy Eating Strategy, please visit:

o https://www.canada.ca/en/services/health/campaigns/vision-healthy-canada/healthy-eating.html

• To access the 2018 report on Sodium Reduction in Processed Foods in Canada

o https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/legislation-guidelines/guidance-documents/guidance-food-industry-reducing-sodium-processed-foods-progress-report-2017.html

• Canada’s Food Guide, please visit: www.Canada.ca/FoodGuide

• Stay informed on Health Canada’s latest activities and information by creating a profile in the Stakeholder registry.

o https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/corporate/about-health-canada/public-engagement/stakeholder-registry.html

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Questions?

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Visit us at booth 1755

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Any additional questions?