Health Canada has applied new regulations to the supplemented food industry..The feds made the announcement on Wednesday. ."The new regulations will continue to protect the health and safety of Canadians, while providing people in Canada the information they need to make informed choices about these foods," said Health Canada.."The new rules will also allow industry to bring new and innovative products to consumers.".Supplemented foods in Canada are pre-packaged foods containing one or more added ingredients, such as vitamins, mineral nutrients, amino acids, caffeine or herbal extracts. Examples of supplemented foods include beverages with added minerals, caffeinated energy drinks, and snack bars with added vitamins..According to Health Canada, scientific studies have shown the ingredients added to supplemented foods can be harmful if consumed by vulnerable populations, such as children or pregnant people, or if overconsumed by the general population..Under the new regulations, all supplemented foods will have a standardized Supplemented Food Facts table, which includes information on the amount of each supplemental ingredient added. This table is similar to the nutrition facts table that currently helps inform Canadians’ food choices..Supplemented foods that contain specific ingredients will also require labels to provide information for consumers on the cautions and directions for use related to the supplemented food so consumers can see if it is appropriate for them.."To reduce potential health risks, the new regulations also impose strict compositional limits and conditions of use, as well as limits on the types of foods that can be supplemented," Health Canada said.."For example, a food like bread, which is already fortified for public health, would not be considered an appropriate food category to be supplemented." .The regulations will also maintain the prohibition on the use of supplemented foods as ingredients or as constituents of ingredients to produce edible cannabis..Prior to these regulations, manufacturers and distributors had to obtain a Temporary Marketing Authorization (TMA) from Health Canada to sell a supplemented food..Supplemented foods already on the market with a TMA or for which a company has submitted an application for a TMA before July 21, that is subsequently approved by Health Canada, will have until Jan. 1, 2026, to comply with these new regulations.."New supplemented foods will need to comply immediately," Health Canada said.
