Health Canada has proposed four new warning labels that would be on the front of food packaging in the coming years. The goal of the new label is to make it clear to consumers that the food item they are buying might be high in sugar, sodium, or saturated fat. One of the steps in this consultation process is asking for consumer input into which label should be used. There are four options under consideration. The first proposed label shows a magnifying glass to signal to consumers that there is something that they should pay close attention to. The second alternative under consideration features an exclamation mark. The other two options show red or black lettering with the word "high in" as the third and fourth options under consideration. These differences appear on the left side of the label, and on the right is the fat, sugar, and sodium content.

Why Now?

Health Canada is targeting fat, sodium, and sugar based on the fact that eating foods high in these nutrients often enough can lead to great health risks, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and obesity.
According to the Government of Canada, high blood pressure, or hypertension, is a significant risk factor for death and disability. Over 68 percent of Canadians are being treated, primarily with medication, for blood pressure, giving Canada the dubious honour of being the country with the highest reported national blood pressure control rate in the world. Over 25 percent of young adults over age 18 are obese and that number climbs to almost 30 percent for those between the ages of 35 and Heart disease is the second most prevalent cause of death in Canada after cancer. These statistics and others are part of the motivation for the new nutrition warning labels. Consumers also understand that there is a link between what they eat and their health. A 2017 survey found that 84 percent of those surveyed believed that food and nutrition have a role to play in preventing illness.

 What Foods will Show the Warning?

If these regulations concerning the additional nutrition warning labels are approved, almost half of the products on grocery store shelves will be affected based on initial research when the consultation process began. The goal is to help encourage healthier eating. So, what products might be affected?
According to the current proposed guidelines, the warning label will be required on products that have more than 15 percent of the recommended daily value of sodium, sugar, or saturated fat. There will be an adjustment made based on the expected serving size to reflect foods that might be high in these three target ingredients even if people only consume small amounts of the food at a time.
The changes won't happen overnight; there will be a transition period in which the industry will be given a chance to potentially reformulate their product to avoid the warning. It is expected that the regulations would be fully in effect in 2022.
Some food products will be exempt from the regulations, despite meeting the above outlined requirements. For instance, 2 percent and whole milk, both of which are high in saturated fats, will not be required to have this warning due to the other proven nutritional benefits. Those products that are naturally high in these ingredients will also be exempt. That means that salt and honey, while both high in sodium and sugar, will not feature the warning labels. Similarly, raw fruits, vegetables, and meat are also exempt from the required warning label.

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2. Questions
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Do you think Health Canada's idea has merit? Which of the four proposed options do you think will be the most effective? Does the warning go too far or not far enough in trying to warn and educate consumers?
 

What aspects of attitude theory outlined in this chapter have applicability to this initiative? How might you ensure a positive response to the nutrition labels in terms of both attitude and behavioural change?
 

Do you accept Health Canada's reasoning for why this initiative will be successful? What are additional reasons this approach may or may not be successful?
 

What other products do you think should have warning labels that don't? Why? How would the addition of such warnings influence consumer attitudes?