Nutrition warning labels are hitting shelves near you — earlier than expected

Health Canada’s new front-of-package nutrition warning labels have started appearing on store shelves six months ahead of the food industry’s deadline. These black-and-white labels are designed to alert shoppers if a product is high in sugar, sodium, and/or saturated fat, which can lead to various health risks such as stroke, obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancers.

While these labels are a step in the right direction for providing consumers with important nutrition information, some experts believe there are limitations to their effectiveness. Dietitian Brittany Brown from Dartmouth, N.S., mentioned that the labels only provide basic information about the levels of sugar, sodium, and saturated fat in a product, without offering more detailed nutritional information. She also noted that the labels only apply to foods that have 15 percent or more of the daily value of these nutrients, potentially missing out on warning consumers about products that are close to the threshold.

Although the intention behind the labels is to help shoppers make quick and informed choices when buying food, they do not address certain complexities around food choices, such as cost and food security. Brown highlighted that individuals with limited budgets may still have to choose products with warning labels due to affordability, despite being aware of their high sugar, sodium, or saturated fat content.

Professor Liesel Carlsson from Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S., mentioned that the labels could lead to reformulation of products by the food industry to avoid triggering the warning labels. This could result in more affordable products that are less damaging to health, even if they fall into the highly processed category.

While there is evidence to suggest that front-of-pack labels are effective in catching consumers’ attention, Carlsson expressed that Canada’s labels may be underwhelming compared to those used in other countries. She cited South American countries that use large black stop signs to communicate similar messages effectively.

Some grocery chains, like Sobeys, have already implemented the front-of-package labels on their store-brand products ahead of the deadline. Sobeys stated that they are committed to meeting Health Canada’s requirements and empowering customers with clear information to support their choices.

Overall, while the new front-of-package nutrition warning labels are a step towards providing consumers with important information about their food choices, there are still limitations and challenges that need to be addressed to ensure that individuals can make informed decisions about their health and nutrition.