Ground beef is now exempt from misleading warning labels.
Join thousands of Canadians standing up for Canadian farmers and ranchers and supporting the ground beef we love.
On June 30, Health Canada announced its finalized Front-of-Package regulations. Thanks to strong public support from Canadians across the country and advocacy efforts from hard-working beef producers, ground beef and all other meat grinds are exempt from the regulations.
The government of Canada’s decision to reverse its policy was a direct result of the movement we built to stand up for farmers and ranchers and support ground beef. Together, we told Health Canada – don’t label my beef, and they listened!
Health Canada’s proposed regulations would have required ground beef sold in stores to carry a “high in” saturated fat warning label. This would have led consumers to believe that ground beef is unhealthy when in fact, it’s a nutrient-rich, wholesome source of protein that Canadians rely on.
Ground beef is a foundational food for Canadian families and a staple in households from coast to coast to coast. It’s one of the most affordable, convenient, and accessible sources of proteins available. Now, more than ever, we need to ensure Canadians continue to have access to affordable, accessible, and whole, nutritious foods, like ground beef. That’s why we stepped up, alongside industry partners and concerned Canadians, to provide Health Canada scientific, common-sense rationale for why ground beef should be exempt.
It’s good for you. Ground beef is a nutrient-dense protein that contributes iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and other essential nutrients that our bodies rely on.
Canadians rely on ground beef to feed their families because it’s affordable, accessible, and nutrient-rich.
It’s good for the economy. Canadian farmers and ranchers produce high-quality, nutritious, accessible and affordable ground beef, and through the supply chain with meat processors, feed Canadian families and provide them with the necessary nutrients to stay healthy.
Health Canada’s warning label is inconsistent.
Health Canada wanted to put a warning label on ground beef, a natural whole food offering consumers a source of vital nutrients, including fats. At the same time, some highly processed, sugary and high in saturated fat foods like soda, chips and cookies are exempt from Health Canada’s labels. It doesn’t make sense.
No other country is doing it.
No other country has required single-ingredient products like beef to have warning labels. If Health Canada succeeded with its label, Canada would have been the only jurisdiction in the world to place a health warning label on ground beef.
It could negatively impact consumer health.
Health Canada’s objective is to increase consumer health, but reductions in ground beef consumption will not impact Canadians’ overall saturated fat intake. Ground beef is a minor contributor to the overall saturated fat Canadians are consuming. Instead, it would affect the most vulnerable populations, including women and children, who require important nutrients from ground beef.
