Health Canada Nixes Low-Carb Labelling

[Dee3]

I am sorry for this extremely long post but I have just become aware of this and I am fuming!!!
We Canadian low-carbers don't have a fraction of the products that our American neighbours have and we are going to have even less choice than we do now if the Canadian government have their way:


The federal government is putting Canadian food producers on a strict carbohydrate labelling diet that could knock a number of new product lines off grocery store shelves next year.
Health Canada says there's no scientific evidence to support low-carb diets, such as the ubiquitous Atkins diet, and the absence is reflected in new rules on labelling that come into effect in December 2005.

"There was - and still is - no reason from a nutrient point of view to be concerned with the amount of carbs that we eat," Carole Saindon, a spokeswoman for Health Canada, said in an interview.

So when Health Canada published its new regulations last year, carbohydrate claims were ruled off limits for future food and drink labels.

"Low fat is one of them. Low sodium is one of them. But low carb is not," said Saindon.

The restrictions, which come into effect next year for large companies and in 2007 for producers with revenues below $1 million, don't stop there.

An information letter from Health Canada has informed the industry that "express or implied representations" are prohibited.

"This means that other statements about the presence or absence of carbohydrates, including the use of brand names and trademarks, are subject to these regulations," says the letter.

The rule change comes as literally thousands of new low-carb products are being introduced in the United States, many of them spilling over into Canada.

In April, Unilever Canada launched a 22-product Carb Options line, following an earlier January launch in the U.S. It was one of some 1,863 products or packages with low-carb claims introduced this year, according to one U.S. market research firm.

The products range from beer and cola to salad dressing and cereal.

Kraft has a line called CarbWell and General Mills has Carb Monitor, although a General Mills spokeswoman said their line has not been launched in Canada.

None of the major low-carb products may be sold here as such after Dec. 12, 2005, said a spokeswoman for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which enforces labelling rules.

Trademarks such Carb Options and CarbWell, are "implying there's something about carbohydrate in the food - either that there's a low level or some level or no level or that there's something better about theirs," said the agency's Charmaine Kuran.

"Most of those types of trademarks that you'll see on the market we will not be accepting once they move over to the new labelling regulations."

Unilever Canada disputes the interpretation.

Unilever nutritionist Lucia Weiler said the company is well aware of the new regulations but does not agree the Carb Options name contravenes them.

"As we understand the (Health Canada) letter and the current laws, our products are compliant and will be compliant," said Weiler.

"We stand behind our product, that they're fully compliant and they're out there to meet a consumer need."

Kuran speculated that food producers are simply using the old rules, still in effect, for short-term market gain, "probably trying to take advantage of the the trend right now to sell carbohydrate-reduced products - or products that even mention how much carbohydrate they have in them."

Continuing consumer demand has recently come into question, however, with some industry leaders suggesting there's a glut of low-carb products in a shrinking market.

"While we are clearly seeing that the low-carb trend, or fad, has peaked and it looks like it is taking a bit of a dive in the supermarkets, we have yet to see the recovery of those (other food) categories that were impacted by low-carb," Kellogg CEO Carlos Gutierrez said in a July conference call with investors.

These divergent trends are compelling to food producers and regulators alike.

While diets such as Atkins arguably are waning, carb-conscious consumers abound.

"The phenomenon is huge, but it's all in how you ask it," said market researcher Glenys A. Babcock of Ipsos-Reid in Toronto.

Summer surveys in 2003 and 2004 found that, while the number of Canadians who say they're on the Atkins diet is roughly four per cent, some 63 per cent of respondents agreed they are trying to limit carbohydrate consumption. A third strongly agreed.

Ipsos-Reid also found that 81 per cent of respondents wanted federal regulation of low-carb claims on food and beverage labels. And 86 per cent wanted their provincial health ministries to do more to inform the public about the risks or benefits of low-carb diets.

Whether the new Health Canada regulations meet all these competing impulses is an open question.

Among the new labelling rules is a revised Nutrifacts table which includes carbohydrate content among the 13 nutrients that must be measured.

"Consumers can still choose to eat more or less on their own," said Health Canada's Saindon.

"We're not providing guidance as to what they should do."

My husband and I have lost a total of 150 pounds between us and they are telling us in essence that this way of life doesn't work!

I don't know if it anything will stop our steam rolling government but if anyone wishes, there is an online petition to voice your opinion on this matter.
http://tlcfightsback.com

[MotherOfGizmo]

That sucks, but, just really means that you will have to read labels very closely. Look for sugar free items, I'm sure they will be able to still sell things marketed for diabetics. Stick with whole fresh foods, they're better for you anyway. Even though I have easy access to most "low carb" products, I rarely buy any of them, the price and the taste just doesn't cut it IMO and alot of these products are only one carb less than the regular product for example the Carb Options Cheese Sauce (by Ragu).

[Devi]

Crap! This really upsets me! I'm just starting to hunt out the products that I like, all the while cursing the fact that I don't have the amount of options as the USA...and now they want to stop stores from carrying these products all together??? That is absolutely unnerving and extremely arrogant. I've signed that petition!

[sadie147]

Originally Posted by MotherOfGizmo

That sucks, but, just really means that you will have to read labels very closely. Look for sugar free items, I'm sure they will be able to still sell things marketed for diabetics. Stick with whole fresh foods, they're better for you anyway. Even though I have easy access to most "low carb" products, I rarely buy any of them, the price and the taste just doesn't cut it IMO and alot of these products are only one carb less than the regular product for example the Carb Options Cheese Sauce (by Ragu).

I agree with MOG, The Carb Options line is already unavaialbe here, adn really? i haven't really missed it. I will continue to read labels etc and make my own decisions based on my own carb math. sugar free products will still be available, many of the products available right now are not labelled 'low carb' ie russell stover candies, sorbee maple syrup, etc.

The 'low carb' label if you ask me can be very decieving...

Crap! This really upsets me! I'm just starting to hunt out the products that I like, all the while cursing the fact that I don't have the amount of options as the USA...and now they want to stop stores from carrying these products all together??? That is absolutely unnerving and extremely arrogant. I've signed that petition!

it really doesn't mean they will go away all together, many like Russeell stover stuff is already labelled according to teh guidelines. it's just a labelling, they're not outlawed all together.

trust me i was in teh states in March, and too many low carb products is not a good thing (low carb oreos are very very dangerous ).

[Dee3]

Don't get me wrong, I have always read labels and I do go the fresh food route. I won't have a problem continuing on this WOE as I didn't immediately go to the foods that were labelled "low-carb". It just extremely peeves me off that our government is trying to regulate, once again, the options I do have.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Yea, and when you put it that way (about the oreos) it would seem that not having these products readily available should make things easier for you, not harder! That way you don't have to try to resist the temptation at all! Try to look at the bright side, or let me know, I can ship things to you if you really want to spend your money on these things.

Oh Dee, I know what you mean about goverment and regulations...it makes me nuts too!

[Devi]

mmmmmmmmmm....low-carb Oreos.

[sadie147]

Originally Posted by Devi

mmmmmmmmmm....low-carb Oreos.

oh and they are just as good as the real ones. i actually brought home a box..big mistake, was hard to jsut have two! i was pretty happy when it was gone (i pawned alot off on the kids to get rid of them)

they are very dangerous cookies LOL

[MotherOfGizmo]

I've never seen them in a box here Sadie. Only ones I've seen were not Oreo brand, but some other low carb brand, and they come in a little package w/ just 3 cookies.

[sadie147]

Originally Posted by MotherOfGizmo

I've never seen them in a box here Sadie. Only ones I've seen were not Oreo brand, but some other low carb brand, and they come in a little package w/ just 3 cookies.

Wow really? I got these at Kash and Karry (don't you love the liberties companies take with english? little wonder kids can't spell ) in Florida, they were called 'Carbwell Oreos' and looked exactly like the oreos box! The were full of sugar alcohols though..and i'm glad their gone from my kitchen LOL