Consultation on banning partially hydrogenated oils in foods

From Health Canada

Current status: The public consultation is now closed. Thank you for your interest.

You're invited to provide comments on the proposal to ban the use of partially hydrogenated oils (industrial trans fats) in foods.

Why

Eating foods that have trans fats increases your risk of heart disease.

Some trans fats occur naturally in certain animal-based foods, such as:

• milk
• beef
• lamb
• cheese

Some trans fats can be introduced during food processing. Partially hydrogenated oils are the main source of industrially produced trans fats in the Canadian diet.

Prepackaged foods that continue to have higher levels of trans fat include some:

• shortenings
• margarines
• commercially baked goods like cookies
• restaurant foods, such as bakery products like biscuits, scones and cookies

Health Canada is proposing new regulations that will ban the use of partially hydrogenated oils in foods sold in Canada.

Banning the use of partially hydrogenated oils will decrease trans fats in the food supply to the lowest level possible. This will help protect the health of all Canadians.

Who

We're seeking input from all interested Canadians, including:

• consumers who are interested in healthy eating
• industry members and associated organizations
• health professionals and associated organizations
• all levels of government
• academics and researchers
• non-government organizations

What

The purpose of this consultation is to get input on the proposal to ban partially hydrogenated oils in foods.

What does this mean for Canadians?

For Canadians, banning the use of partially hydrogenated oils in foods could mean:

• the availability of healthier products at the grocery store and other places where you buy and eat food
• a decrease in heart disease risk

What does this mean for industry?

For industry, banning the use of partially hydrogenated oils in foods could mean:

• an implementation period of 12 months to give you enough time to:
  • make any needed changes
  • get through any existing stock
• the opportunity to improve the nutritional profile of your products, such as replacing partially hydrogenated oils with unsaturated fats

When and where

This consultation is available online between November 14, 2016, and January 13, 2017.

We plan to have further consultations in Spring 2017.

How to participate

The consultation document gives you information on the background and measures being considered.

You may submit your comments:

• online using the web form
• by email in electronic files such as:
  • Microsoft Word
  • Adobe Acrobat
• by mail
• by fax

We will review and consider all comments received by January 13, 2017.

A new approach to communication with stakeholders

The Government of Canada is committed to openness and transparency. Health Canada will support this commitment by:

• making more information available to Canadians
• providing more opportunities to participate in discussions on government policies and priorities

Formal written submissions in response to this consultation will continue to be summarized in a report that will be made publicly available. These may include a:

• Summary of Comments
• What We Heard report

However, ‎the individual submissions may be released upon request under the Access to Information Act.

All other correspondence and all meetings with stakeholders will be published monthly online in list format, including the:

• organization name
• date
• subjects
• purpose of the meeting
• title of any documents provided during meetings

This includes correspondence and meetings related to healthy eating initiatives in which opinions, information, and requests for information are communicated to inform the development of:

• policies
• guidance
• regulations

Related information

• Fats
• Health Canada’s healthy eating strategy
• Healthy eating strategy publication
• Transparency of stakeholder communications for healthy eating initiatives
• Access to Information Act
• Meetings and correspondence on healthy eating

Contact us

Attention: Trans fat consultation
Health Canada
Bureau of Nutritional Sciences
Health Products and Food Branch
251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway
Mail stop 2203E
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9

Email: BNS-BSN@hc-sc.gc.ca (Attention: Trans fat consultation)

Fax: 613-941-6636 (Attention: Trans fat consultation)