The Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba NDP caucuses have expressed opposition to Health Canada’s decision to move ahead with front-of-package labelling that targets the beef and pork industry.
They wrote to the federal government on behalf of the prairie Official Opposition parties, requesting an exemption to front-of-package labelling for ground beef and pork products.
Canadians living in the prairie provinces understand that the exemptions in-place for front-of-package labelling do not have a common standard. For example, exemptions have been made for the dairy industry.
Health Canada’s decision to apply warning labels to ground beef and pork is based on these products being consumed raw, but a professor from Dalhousie University, Professor Sylvain Charlebois has claimed, that most Canadians cook their ground beef and pork.
The NDP wants a thoughtful and productive front-of-package labelling strategy that will consider how Canadians consume products.
The NDP does stress that they support the policy’s objective of improving Canadians’ access to nutritional information through front-of-packaging labelling but are deeply concerned that these objectives are not being met by our present government.
They NDP believes that our government should stop and institute an exemption for ground beef and pork products from the front-of-package labelling regulation, as well as believing there is a need for additional discussions around this topic.
Because Canadians are facing higher inflationary pressures, especially with the cost of groceries, the NDP believes now is not the time to target the beef and pork industries. In the NDP’s opinion, Canadians should not be wrongly informed about ground beef and pork as unhealthy options, but stand by them as dependable and cost-effective sources of protein.
The NDP caucuses urge our government to reconsider their decision on front-of-package labelling for ground beef and pork.
Sask. Gov’t proactive in efforts to exempt federal meat labelling on ground beef and pork
Statement by The Ministry of Agriculture:
Saskatchewan producers provide some of the most sustainable products and the Government of Saskatchewan will look to advance their industry, not impede it. A proposed front-of-package labelling requirement for ground beef and pork serves no beneficial purpose and we will continue to urge the federal government not to make this regulatory change.
There is strong rationale to exempt ground beef and ground pork, which is an important source of high-quality protein for millions of Canadians. We share the concerns of the livestock industry that a regulatory change to place a label on ground meats could deter consumers from purchasing this food source, affecting not only the livestock industry but also peoples’ access to a relatively affordable protein source that is an important part of a healthy diet for many.
The Ministry of Agriculture has submitted two letters of concern to our federal ministers responsible for these regulations, requesting that ground meat to be exempt from this labelling requirement, and we have sent a third letter to Health Canada stressing the rationale for exempting ground meat products from the front-of-labelling packaging.
