TY - JOUR
T1 - Policy recommendations for front-of-package, shelf, and menu labelling in Canada
T2 - Moving towards consensus
AU - Raine, Kim D.
AU - Ferdinands, Alexa R.
AU - Atkey, Kayla
AU - Hobin, Erin
AU - Jeffery, Bill
AU - Nykiforuk, Candace I.J.
AU - Vanderlee, Lana
AU - Vogel, Ellen
AU - von Tigerstrom, Barbara
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Canadian Public Health Association or its licensor.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Chronic disease
KW - Consensus
KW - Food labelling
KW - Obesity
KW - Policy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85033580439&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.17269/cjph.108.6076
DO - 10.17269/cjph.108.6076
M3 - Comment/debate
C2 - 29120313
AN - SCOPUS:85033580439
SN - 0008-4263
VL - 108
SP - e409-e413
JO - Canadian Journal of Public Health
JF - Canadian Journal of Public Health
IS - 4
ER -