Modify food label requirements say ag groups

Thursday, May 12, 2011

by PAT CURRIE

Having caught Prime Minister Harper’s ear two years ago to bring about changes in the labels put on Canadian food, the Ontario and Canadian federations of agriculture are hoping to do so again, and this time hope the feds get it right.

"It’s becoming more and more obvious that the changes are not working," OFA President Bette Crews said Wednesday.

Crews and CFA President Ron Bonnett said that the standard set by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for packaged food to have a minimum 98 per cent Canadian content before it can be labelled Product of Canada is too high.

"It’s almost impossible to meet," said Crews. She explains that many products such as pickles and chicken pot pie include other food items such as vinegar and vegetables that have been imported while the main ingredient is 100per cent Canadian.

The CFA is pushing for 85 per cent Canadian content, said Bonnett, “which is more reasonable."

The 98 per cent standard is so high that many food processors and packers ignore the Product of Canada labels and instead label their products as Made in Canada, which does not identify all of the ingredients.

"The consumers don’t know the difference. It’s causing confusion," said Crews.

She said the food labels issue would be treated as part of a coming OFA-CFA push for a national food strategy, an aim that both organizations will treat as their top priorities. BF