If a food is high in sugar, salt and saturated fat it should say so – in a label right there on the front
. People have a right to choose to eat what they want; they also have a right to know what they’re eating, and the consequences of their choices.
The new labelling plans have, however, run into a recent snag. Various foods, such as some dairy and whole meats, will get an exemption under the new rules, and should. But ground beef, which is considered partially processed, may not be exempt.Right now, ground beef has a front-of-package label, in the standard tricky-to-discern form of calories, fats and the like. It’s also labelled as regular, lean or extra lean.
At first blush, ground beef appears to qualify to be hit with the proposed warning label, since it is high in fat. However, the vast universe of processed fatty, salted and over-sweetened foods is what the labelling initiative is supposed to target. And Health Canada’s years-long exercise to make these new labels a reality risks derailing because of this kerfuffle. If getting things back on track requires an exemption for ground beef, so be it.
The new labels matter because health care is not just doctors, nurses and hospitals. It should be about all the things that can help prevent you from needing their services. Lifelong healthy eating and exercise are part of health care. These new, clearer labels on the many foods that are too high in fat, sugar and salt will help Canadians to better know what they are eating. What each of us chooses to do with that information is up to us.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Globe editorial: How francophones outside Quebec became the minority English Canada forgot aboutFrancophones outside Quebec must often battle against official neglect, contempt, or absence of mind
Read more »
Globe editorial: How francophones outside Quebec became the minority English Canada forgot aboutFrancophones outside Quebec must often battle against official neglect, contempt, or absence of mind
Read more »
Editorial | A judicial assault on rightsThe U.S. Supreme Court decision is an attack on a woman’s right to choose. Ottawa should use this ruling as further impetus to ensure the protection of those rights in Canada. StarEditorial
Read more »
The easiest way to combat high food prices is to be more mindful of wasteOn average, Canadian householders spend over $1,700 on food that is wasted every year.
Read more »
The mother and daughters behind Situ’s Kitchen are on a mission to perfect vegan versions of Lebanese delightsSitu’s Kitchen officially launched in 2021, with a focus on using non-GMO and organic ingredients to make frozen food ready to heat and eat, complete with recyclable packaging. StarTogether
Read more »
Norway’s PM says Oslo gay bar shooting won’t stop fight for equal rightsPolice questioned 42-year-old suspect, a Norwegian citizen of Iranian origin, for a second time on Sunday
Read more »