The Government of Canada welcomes Trans Fat Task Force report

01/09/05 The Government of Canada has welcomed the release of the interim report of the Trans Fat Task Force and is taking action to address its recommendations. This report provides government, the public and the food processing and food service industries guidance on actions to reduce Canadians' intake of trans fats.

"Canadians' consumption of trans fats is one of the highest in the world and the Government of Canada is committed to helping reverse this trend," said Minister of Health Ujjal Dosanjh. "Health Canada is acting upon the Task Force's interim recommendations which are a good first step. We are also reminding Canadians to read nutrition labels and choose products that are low in both trans and saturated fats. Further, we are calling on restaurants and the food service industry to accelerate their efforts to eliminate partially hydrogenated vegetable oils from their operations."

The Government of Canada is responding to the recommendations through a number of initiatives involving Health Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

The Task Force has identified Health Canada's nutrition labeling regulations as key in helping consumers reduce trans fat intake. These regulations require that calories and the content of 13 core nutrients, including trans fat, be listed on the labels of most prepackaged foods by December 12, 2005 (December 12, 2007 for small manufacturers).

The Government will continue to collaborate with industry to reduce trans fats found in food in Canada. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is continuing to carry out valuable research on trans fats. It will also be putting together a list of Canadian not-for-profit food processing development centers that can help food companies work towards reducing or eliminating trans fats in their products.

The Task Force will continue to gather information in the coming months and a second public consultation is scheduled for fall 2005. The final report, which will contain recommendations for an appropriate regulatory framework and for the introduction and widespread use of healthy alternatives to trans fats, will be provided to the Minister of Health in late fall 2005.