As highlighted in the recent Speech from the Throne, our Government is committed to supporting Canadians and their families. One of the promises we made in the Throne Speech was to consult with parents and consumers on how our Government can improve the way nutritional information is presented on food labels. The first consultation was very successful and we heard from Canadians across the country.
Today, we are proposing changes to the nutrition information on food labels, based on what we heard from Canadian parents and consumers as well as the latest scientific information. These changes will make it easier to read and understand labels and help Canadians make healthy food choices. Over the coming months, we'll be conducting face-to-face and online consultations to gather information about what Canadians think about the new proposed food labels.
The overall goal of the proposed changes is to provide Canadians with the nutrition information they need to make informed decisions about the foods they buy and prepare for themselves and their families. Nutrition labelling is an important public health tool that can help Canadians make healthier food choices to improve their health and help reduce their risk of obesity and chronic diseases.
Canada is a world leader in the area of nutrition labelling and was one of the first countries to require mandatory nutrition labelling on prepackaged foods. We are striving to improve the information on food labels so that we can continue to improve the health of Canadians.
As Minister of Health, I'm proud of our Government's ongoing efforts to raise awareness about healthy eating and adopt policies that protect the health of Canadians and provide them with the tools to make more informed choices. I value your feedback and hope you will take part in this consultation process by answering the questions on the page that follows.