Food and Nutrition Directorate
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What we do
The Food and Nutrition Directorate (FND):
- establishes standards, policies and regulations to reduce chemical, microbial and nutritional risks associated with the food supply
- develops healthy eating policies and guidelines to promote and support the nutritional health and well-being of people in Canada
- provides advice and information on food safety, the nutritional quality of food and healthy eating
We ensure that our work reflects the best available evidence by:
- conducting surveillance and research
- staying up to date with the latest developments in nutrition, healthy eating and food safety
We work closely with partners, stakeholders and international bodies to:
- share information
- set international standards
- guide and implement our work
- increase global understanding of food safety risks and nutritional characteristics of food
Learn more:
Bureaus
The directorate is composed of 7 bureaus:
The Bureau of Chemical Safety
The Bureau of Chemical Safety works to ensure chemicals aren't present in foods at levels that may pose a health risk.
The bureau does this by:
- establishing standards, policies and regulations to manage the presence of chemicals in foods
- conducting risk assessments for country foods and for foods containing:
- food allergens
- food additives
- gluten sources
- chemical contaminants
- supporting federal policies and regulations through surveillance and research of food chemicals
- evaluating the safety of technological innovations and packaging materials in the food supply
- providing scientific advice on food irradiation, chemical hazards and safe manufacturing processes
The Bureau of Microbial Hazards
The Bureau of Microbial Hazards works to minimize risks from microbial contaminants in food.
The bureau addresses bacterial, parasitic, viral and prion-related hazards through:
- conducting microbiological risk assessments and developing risk management strategies to reduce foodborne illness
- assessing and managing the safety of novel foods, including genetically modified foods
- providing advice and educating consumers about safe food practices to minimize risks associated with foodborne pathogens
- performing research and providing scientific data and expert scientific advice to support the development of federal standards, policies, regulations and guidelines to ensure the microbial safety of the Canadian food supply
Learn more: Microbial research activities and national reference service laboratories
The Bureau of Nutritional Sciences
The Bureau of Nutritional Sciences works to address nutritional risks associated with the food supply.
The bureau does this by:
- establishing standards, policies and regulations pertaining to the nutritional quality of the food supply, including:
- health claims
- nutrition labelling
- nutritional composition (for example, the addition of vitamins and minerals to foods, sodium reduction targets)
- conducting pre-market assessments and providing regulatory guidance on submissions related to:
- health claims related to foods
- the nutritional quality and safety of infant nutrition products, supplemented foods, dietary fibres
- conducting nutritional safety and risk assessments of certain food ingredients, processes and foods to support compliance and enforcement actions undertaken by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- conducting research and surveillance activities, such as:
- nutrient analysis in foods
- measurement of nutritional biomarkers to inform nutritional risk assessments, standard setting and policy making
Bureau of Healthy Eating Policy and Promotion
The Bureau of Healthy Eating Policy and Promotion leads efforts to promote and support:
- the nutritional health and well-being of people in Canada
- improvements to the Canadian food environment
To achieve this, the bureau:
- anticipates and responds to nutrition and healthy eating issues
- develops nutrition and healthy eating policies and initiatives, including dietary guidance for use by health professionals, policymakers and the public
- communicates and promotes nutrition and healthy eating information through targeted educational resources and tools
- supports the integration of healthy eating considerations into relevant policies and programs, including those led by partners and stakeholders
The Bureau of Policy, Intergovernmental and International Affairs
The Bureau of Policy, Intergovernmental and International Affairs leads, coordinates and supports the advancement of domestic and international policies, standards and regulations related to food safety and nutrition.
The bureau supports key government processes by:
- collaborating with stakeholders, provincial and territorial partners, other jurisdictions and international bodies on key food priorities
- developing and analyzing food policies, and designing and implementing regulatory frameworks
- managing regulatory updates through the incorporation by reference (IbR) process
- maintaining interagency relationships, ensuring policy and program alignment through its role as Secretariat for the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Food Safety Committee
- leading the directorate's broader international activities, developing and coordinating the directorate's positions with various bilateral and multilateral fora, and managing bilateral relationships with key international partners
- leading and coordinating the Food and Nutrition Directorate's activities within the Codex Alimentarius Commission, including being the Codex contact point for Canada
Learn more: Food and nutrition international activities
The Bureau of Data, Science and Knowledge Integration
The Bureau of Data, Science and Knowledge Integration provides the FND with a wide range of expertise and services, including biostatistics, bioinformatics, social science research and knowledge translation. The bureau also coordinates food and nutrition surveillance activities to guide risk analysis, standard setting, research, policies and regulations.
To achieve this, the bureau:
- conducts statistical analyses for risk modeling, exposure assessments and public health surveillance
- provides bioinformatics and data science support, to acquire, analyze and interpret complex data
- facilitates the integration of results and the dissemination of products
- conducts social and behavioural sciences for food science policies and regulations
- contributes to effective knowledge translation, communication, stakeholder engagement, and awareness and education initiatives for key food policies and regulations
Bureau of Business Systems and Operations
The Bureau of Business Systems and Operations supports food safety and nutrition programs, and maintains a safe and healthy work environment for FND employees.
The bureau:
- manages finance, administration and governance processes
- oversees infrastructure, accommodations and integration of departmental and directorate planning
- coordinates information management and investment planning
- ensures emergency preparedness and business continuity planning
- supports occupational health and safety within the directorate
Additionally, the bureau manages the Submission Management and Information Unit (SMIU), which coordinates and supports bureaus and acts as the single contact point for pre-market submissions from stakeholders.
Learn more: Pre-market oversight of food products sold in Canada
Related links
Contact Us
E-mail: food-aliment@hc-sc.gc.ca
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