Governments and Industry Collaborate on Made-in-Manitoba Foods with Health Benefits
News Release
November 18, 2016 – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
The governments of Canada and Manitoba have invested approximately $135,000 with the Flax Council of Canada to develop four nutritious, flax-based food products which may also help lower cholesterol, Federal Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Ralph Eichler announced today.
Four foods made with ground flaxseed were created and tested with this funding, including a muffin, bread, smoothie mix and nutrition bar. This work was done at the Food Development Centre in Portage la Prairie, an internationally-recognized centre for developing and commercializing food products, with a focus on using ingredients grown and made in Manitoba.
The Flax Council of Canada has also invested $54,000 in this project. The muffin recipe is the first product ready for consumers and, after a pilot project that began in September 2014, they have been added to the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) menu. They are also available to patients and residents daily in many personal care homes and hospital sites throughout Winnipeg.
This year, an estimated 50,000 muffins will be served in the health region.
The recipe is available online at www.healthyflax.org. The muffins for the health authority are locally made at The Donut House, a commercial bakery in Winnipeg.
Funding for this project was provided through the Growing Forward 2 – Growing Actions program. It invests in industry-led initiatives to increase competitiveness and create innovative solutions for agricultural organizations, including market development, trade advocacy and research projects.
The federal and provincial governments are investing $176 million in Manitoba under Growing Forward 2, a five-year, federal-provincial-territorial policy framework to advance the agriculture industry, helping producers and processors become more innovative and competitive in world markets.
The Flax Council of Canada is a national organization which promotes Canadian flax and flax products for nutritional and industrial uses in domestic and international markets.
Quick Facts
- Each nutrient-rich muffin is made with two tablespoons of ground flax, containing four grams of fibre as well as omega-3 fats and antioxidants.
- Eating 40 grams (5 tablespoons) of ground flax per day can help reduce cholesterol, a major risk factor for heart disease.
- Canada is the top flax producer in the world, representing about 40 per cent of global production. Last year, 925,000 acres of flax were grown in Western Canada.
Quotes
"The Government of Canada is committed to helping the agricultural industry innovate with strategic investments in research and development. These new flax-based products will mean more money in the pockets of our farmers and processors, and a stronger future for Canada's flax sector overall."
- Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
"This project has built on many of Manitoba's strengths in the agricultural and research sectors, from the farm gate all the way to food development and commercialization. This collaboration has resulted in four new healthy and delicious food products, made from flax grown on the prairies by farm families, developed in our own world-class facilities. We are proud to be part of this project, which is already helping to improve the health of many Manitobans."
- Ralph Eichler, Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
"The creation of a flax muffin recipe with 13 grams of flax that meets the requirements to make a health claim and is tasty enough for the WRHA to adopt is a tremendous accomplishment. Through our partnership, we can highlight the benefits of flax and its ability to improve patient well-being on a practical level. We hope this is a stepping stone for future successes with our other flax-enriched foods."
- Don Kerr, president, Flax Council of Canada
"This muffin is an excellent source of energy, low in saturated fats and providing five grams of protein and four grams of fibre per muffin. The small package is important to help meet the nutritional needs of those in hospital or older adults who may have smaller appetites."
- Kathleen Richardson, chief nutrition and food services officer, WRHA
Additional Links
- Growing Forward 2 (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
- Growing Forward 2 (Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Development)
- Flax Council
Contacts
Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada
Like us on Facebook: CanadianAgriculture
Guy Gallant
Director of Communications
Office of the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay
613-773-1059
Lenore Kowalchuk
Communications Coordinator
Communications Services Manitoba
204-945-7123
Search for related information by keyword