globalnews.ca
13.06.2022 / 02:51
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Ranchers’ group pushes back against Health Canada’s ‘vilification’ of beef
New Health Canada food labelling requirements for ground meat draw criticism The package labels would be applied to most foods that exceed 15 per cent of an adult’s recommended daily intake of sodium, sugar or saturated fat. But some foods that are naturally high in sugar, such as unsweetened fruit, will be exempt from the labelling requirement, while dairy and eggs — though high in saturated fat — will also be exempt.Dennis Laycraft, executive vice-president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, said his industry can’t understand why its product is being “vilified.” He said Canadians consume approximately half of their calories from nutrient-poor ultra-processed foods, but by contrast, ground beef — while undeniably a source of saturated fat — is also a nutrient-dense protein that contains iron, zinc, and vitamin B12.“We believe there is a very, very compelling case to support an exemption,” Laycraft said in an interview.“The whole purpose of this (Health Canada proposal) largely came from a concern about highly processed foods, and foods with a lot of ingredients,” Laycraft said.