First: a disclaimer. I completely agree that the Health Canada front-of-package labeling regulations, as written, are not what I want, as a consumer and as a farmer. I also completely agree that if, as individuals and as groups, people share a view they should absolutely speak up and voice their concerns, especially during the comment... Read More
Category: Food
A group of people concerned about the impact of Health Canada's plan to revise Canada's Food Guide and introduce new labels on food packaging have launched a campaign to raise awareness of and opposition to the government's proposed changes. The campaign, which uses the slogan "Hands Off My Plate," includes a website, a hashtag (#HandsOffMyPlate,... Read More
Producer groups from both eastern and western Canada are partnering on a research project with the University of Saskatchewan looking to provide information to consumers on consumption of foods made from both whole and enriched non-whole grains. Led by Hassan Vatanparast of the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Pharmacy and Nutrition and School of Public... Read More
The Canadian Centre for Food Integrity has received a grant of over US$520,000 from the Walmart Foundation to fund research into Canadian attitudes on food waste. The funding will also be used to assist food and beverage businesses make changes to achieve measurable food waste reductions. It's estimated that 18% of Canada's food waste happens... Read More
Recently, a dairy company out of Wisconsin rolled out its latest marketing campaign, claiming "Organic grass-fed milk is more nutritious. It's science." Well, there is good scientific evidence that the composition of milk from cows fed dry hay or fresh forage is higher in omega-3 fatty acids versus cows fed ensiled feed. But, does the... Read More
The Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB) has responded to concerns from farmer supporters about an article commissioned by the organization that was published in The Hill Times newspaper. The column, written by third-party author Sophia Murphy, argued the Canadian government should expand the scope of its proposed national food policy to account for the global impact... Read More
After forcing some companies to change their labels over complaints of the Non-GMO Project Verified seal, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) now says the "butterfly" label does not imply a non-GMO claim. The regulatory enforcement change came last year, after complaints poured in from across the country regarding products that featured the Non-GMO Project... Read More
Have you got a great idea for the next big thing for chicken? Chicken Farmers of Ontario on Wednesday announced the Ontario Chicken Innovation and Growth Program to "accelerate consumer-facing product innovation and stimulate growth in the Ontario chicken industry." Rob Dougans, president and CEO, Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO), says, "Our goal is simple:... Read More
Would you buy a steak, roast, or package of hamburger online? Changes in the way consumers are purchase food ingredients may offer new opportunities, and challenges, to the beef industry. Don Close is a senior analyst of animal protein at Rabo AgriFinance, and recently completed a report entitled Food Fight! — Online and Brick and... Read More
The latest Grocery Trade Report tells the story of more sales to the U.S., Canadians choosing to cook at home, and a (perhaps surprisingly) small shift to online food sales. Kevin Grier, with KG Market Analysis and Consulting, says that 2017 was a pretty strong year for the grocery industry in Canada. Of note, packaged... Read More