Abstract
Greater availability of low nutritional quality foods and decreased consumption of nutrient-dense foods have negatively impacted the nutrient profile of the Canadian diet. Poor diet is now the leading risk factor for chronic disease and premature death in Canada. To help consumers choose healthful foods, nutrition labelling is one policy tool for communicating relevant nutrition information. However, there are notable shortcomings with current nutrition labelling systems, which make it difficult for Canadians to navigate the complex food environment. Government action on nutrition labelling systems, including front-of-package (FOP), shelf, and menu labelling, is required. In May 2016, we hosted a consensus conference with experts from research, policy and practice to review available evidence, share experiences and come to consensus regarding the next best steps for action on nutrition labelling in Canada. In this paper, we examine the evidence, opportunities and challenges surrounding FOP, shelf, and menu labelling. We outline recommendations, emphasizing FOP, shelf, and menu labelling as part of a standardized, coordinated and multi-pronged strategy supported by a robust, evidence-based nutrition profiling system. Recommendations for monitoring adherence to regulations and participation of stakeholders to avoid conflict of interest in policy development, implementation and evaluation are included. Within a comprehensive strategy, these recommendations can help to improve the nutrition information environment for Canadians.
Key words: Food labelling, consensus, policy, obesity, chronic disease
Mots Clés: Étiquetage des aliments, consensus, politique (principe), obésité, maladie chronique
Résumé
La disponibilité accrue d’aliments de faible qualité nutritionnelle et la baisse de la consommation d’aliments riches en nutriments ont des impacts négatifs sur le profil nutritionnel du régime canadien. La mauvaise alimentation est maintenant le principal facteur de risque de maladies chroniques et de décès prématurés au Canada. Pour aider les consommateurs à choisir des aliments sains, l’étiquetage nutritionnel est un outil stratégique de communication de l’information nutritionnelle pertinente. Les systèmes d’étiquetage nutritionnel actuels comportent toutefois des lacunes notables, d’où la difficulté pour les Canadiens de s’y retrouver dans un environnement alimentaire complexe. Une action gouvernementale est nécessaire en ce qui a trait aux systèmes d’étiquetage nutritionnel, notamment l’étiquetage sur le devant de l’emballage (étiquetage de face), l’étiquetage sur les tablettes et l’étiquetage des menus. En mai 201 6, nous avons tenu une conférence de concertation avec des spécialistes de la recherche, des politiques et des pratiques pour examiner les données probantes disponibles, partager les expériences de chacun et parvenir à un consensus quant aux meilleures mesures à prendre maintenant pour agir sur la question de l’étiquetage nutritionnel au Canada. Nous présentons ici les données probantes, les possibilités et les défis concernant l’étiquetage de face, l’étiquetage sur les tablettes et l’étiquetage des menus. Nous formulons des recommandations, qui abordent l’étiquetage de face, l’étiquetage sur les tablettes et l’étiquetage des menus dans le cadre d’une stratégie standardisée et coordonnée à plusieurs volets, soutenue par un système de profilage nutritionnel robuste et fondé sur les preuves. Nous incluons des recommandations visant à surveiller le respect de la réglementation et la participation des acteurs pour éviter les conflits d’intérêts dans l’élaboration, l’application et l’évaluation de politiques. Dans le cadre d’une stratégie globale, ces recommandations peuvent contribuer à améliorer l’environnement d’information nutritionnelle des Canadiens.
Footnotes
Acknowledgements: The authors acknowledge Manuel Arango, Norm Campbell, Kate Chidester, Mary Collins, André Corriveau, Lucie Granger, David Hammond, Mary L’Abbé, Janice Macdonald, Soultana Macridis, Rachel Prowse, Kelly Stott, Jim Talbot, Mark Tremblay and Pat Vanderkooy for participating in the consensus conference process. This study was supported by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer through a Coalitions Linking Actions and Science for Prevention grant. C. Nykiforuk received support as an Applied Public Health Chair from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada and Alberta Innovates–Health Solutions (2014–2019). L. Vanderlee is a CIHR Banting Postdoctoral Fellow.
Conflict of Interest: None to declare.
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