New rules for Canadian food labels

by Barry Artiste | May 21, 2008 at 03:22 pm

992 views | 6 Recommendations | 22 comments

Opinion
Barry Artiste, Now Public Contributor

All I can say it is about time, after two decades of Canadian consumers thinking the foods and produce they consumed were from Canada or North America, soon found out they were mostly from China and other Nations with spotty health and food sanitary requirements.

We all remember last year when it came to media attention all over North America, that those oranges we thought were from Sunny Florida or seafood products were from our shores, were actually from China, in which the World Health Organization issued a world wide ban on Chinese produced foods found to contain cancer causing chemical and Chinese waters contaminated with malachite green a deadly cancer causing chemical which was found in North American processed Seafood.

I have provided a link on my past story on this where I name foods North Americans historically thought were North American Made. But in name and label only. What will this mean to Consumers? "Choice" !!

What will all this mean to Food Producers and Processors whose deceptive advertising left our health at risk?

Well truth in advertising, something we used to have , but lost to the almighty Corporate Buck!

What will this mean to North American Farmers? Perhaps a small increase in costs to the consumers, but it will keep a Farming industry viable once more. And when it comes to our health, and the foods we eat, that is a small price to pay for foods for us and our economic health.

Will the USA follow Canada's lead? Only the Consumer's voice and choice who they buy their foods from will cause a change!

http://www.nowpublic.com/environment/product-canada-dont-bet-it-0

VINELAND, Ont. -- Processed foods sold in Canadian supermarkets will now be subjected to stricter labelling regulations, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Wednesday.

The new labels will affect two categories of products, those that are labelled as a: "Product of Canada" and: "Made in Canada."

This is the first change to the food labels since the 1980s.

It affects all processed foods sold in the country including juice, chocolate bars and ice-cream.

Under the new regulations, foods labelled as a Canadian product must contain "all or virtually all contents" that are from Canada, Mr. Harper said in the announcement.

Products that are labelled "Made in Canada" will now mean the majority of ingredients were processed in the country. "We want to tighten up the definition so Canadians know what they're getting and get exactly what they want," Mr. Harper said.

There will also be a new label that will say: "Made in Canada with imported ingredients," he added, to include foods that are made in the country but do not necessarily only contain Canadian ingredients.

Under current food labelling rules, food products can be labelled as "Product of Canada" if 51% of the product is produced in the country.

"That is not what consumers think [when they read that label]," he said. "It's not good enough for Canada."

No details were announced on when the new labelling regulations will come into effect.

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Mike Wood

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 19:25 on May 21st, 2008

Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Wow! Stephen Harper is actually doing something useful. It's about time!

When possible I always try to buy Canadian and I advise my family and friends to do so as well. Especially when it comes to food.

First you know your getting quality and second your supporting Canadian industry, whether it be local or other provinces.

Barry Artiste

at 22:02 on May 21st, 2008

Thanks for the comments and GS Flag Mike, funny before this law was passed, Canadians rarely got their produce and foods from Canada, they were pretty much out of coutnry like China, though it said made in canada, it has turned out to be a big lie, with only the label and warehouse and store being canadian, It was certainly a shocker to find all this out.

eastvanray

at 18:33 on May 24th, 2008

Governments rarely do anything usefull. "The government that governs least, governs best." - Jefferson

Mohammad360

at 19:44 on May 21st, 2008

Winter and summer fruits together. Orange, apple, apricot, cucumber, prune.
Tehran, Iran, May 10, 2008.

Mohammad360 has contributed a photo to this story.

Barry Artiste

at 21:59 on May 21st, 2008

You know Mohammad, I have no problem getting Good Fruits that we cannot grow here, but we have to think of our local farmers first, Thanks for the photos and the comments, much appreciated

PEP

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 23:14 on May 21st, 2008

Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Barry Artiste

at 05:17 on May 22nd, 2008

Thanks Pep, An issue, people need to be aware of when we get scammed time and time again. It's our health, these national food companies who care not what we eat, as they care not the poisons their food suppliers put into our food. Who knows what carcinogens we have ingested or other chemicals we could pass along to your future generations. What is this? A Chemical & Biological Warfare of Kindness , they certainly do not need guns to to kill us, or even face to face invasion. We are being contaminated with the possibility of a host of cancer causing chemicals with a smile and a nod from China from far away, with North American Food processors and manufacturer as China's Chemical Warfare Deliverymen bringing this contaminated crap to our Supermarket. Perhaps I am being somewhat paranoid, but with media reports of poisoned food in the North American marketplace with suspect ingredients, what else are consumers to think, certainly a Canadian Law now validates in part my concerns and others concerned about the health of themselves and children and even Pets.

As well Money's tight, and I want to know my money is going local if possible.

PEP

at 05:25 on May 22nd, 2008

Great comment. I'm convinced that China's poisoned shipments to us aren't all "accidental."

Barry Artiste

at 05:40 on May 22nd, 2008

Bingo is their Name-O!

xfuture911

at 08:06 on May 22nd, 2008

This image of a bottle of mango juice, and also it is almost empty that is all

xfuture911 has contributed a photo to this story.

Barry Artiste

at 09:21 on May 22nd, 2008

Now Mangos, Dates,Spices in which we do not grow in North America, I am all for importing into this country,as long as it is safe to eat, and under sanitary conditions. I also feel if we import X amount of goods into this country, it only fair that country we purchased foodstuffs from purchase an equal amount from us. After all fair is fair!!

By the way xfuture,thanks for your contribution from all the way in Saudi Arabia. Beautiful country and people. Again , It's appreciated

Paul Gregory

at 11:41 on May 22nd, 2008

This is a bottle of Clamato photographed in a Tesco store in the UK

Paul Gregory has contributed a photo to this story.

Barry Artiste

at 14:50 on May 22nd, 2008

Thanks Paul for the photo, did you have an opportunity to check where it was made?

viZZZual.com

at 02:28 on May 23rd, 2008

Innocent Smoothies hit Austrian supermarket shelves in May 2008.

viZZZual.com has contributed a photo to this story.

Barry Artiste

at 04:28 on May 23rd, 2008

Thanks viZZZual for the photo contribution

ellyn

at 06:51 on May 24th, 2008

May cottage life in Canada and local produce? Impossible! Our spot on Lake Huron will soon be fully "bought locally," though. 3 cheers for the new labels!

ellyn has contributed a photo to this story.

Barry Artiste

at 06:56 on May 24th, 2008

Thanks for the photos and the comments ellyn

eastvanray

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 18:32 on May 24th, 2008

Barry Artiste, I like this story. It's good stuff.

All this AND an organic standard....WoooHooo!

Information in the hands of consumers can only be a good thing. I always try to buy local whenever possible. Failing that at least canadian or US. I buy almost no processed food so labelling is not a huge issue for me but I am always in favour of full disclosure. I do, however, often ask where fruits and veggies are from before buying them from a grocery store.

Barry Artiste

at 21:59 on May 24th, 2008

Thanks EastVan. I too abhor processed food, though my kids wants it so we compromise at the grocery store. O pretty much buy all my produce at the Cloverdale Market as a rule, there is one near my place so that helps/ As for meats and poultry I frequent my neighbourhood butcher whose family have a cattle farm and poultry. yeah it is a tad more pricey, but as you say, at least I know where my food is coming from. My fish I get from Steveson. So I am pretty much all set. No Save On Foods or other big names for me, I would rather support my local businesses in my neighbourhood, because if we dont, they go out of business and then we are stuck with Save on and their Asian fare, and New Zealand Lamb and Beef. I mean come on, our businesses pay taxes, the offshore manufacturers do not. As for my chinese food fix, well we have more local restaurants than we can shake a stick at, and I would rather support our BC Asian industry than offshore.

eastvanray

at 20:54 on May 25th, 2008

That is great Barry. I thought the BC government passed a law preventing meat from being butvhered locally? How does your butcher get his meat? I have a local butcher too. I walk in and they have sides of beef, lambs and pigs hanging 5 feet from the front counter and 3 or 4 butchers chopping them up on a big table all in plain site. It is a rare sight these days. No styrofoam, no plastic wrap. Brown butcher paper and steaks cut however you want. And cheaper than Safeway.