The Junk Food Excluded to Enrich?

Manufacturers of foods with low nutrient content are not likely to enhance their products with vitamins or minerals on behalf of food innovation.

According to an anonymous source cited by the Montreal newspaper The Gazette1, Health Canada has decided to exclude the junk foods that can be enriched under future global policy on discretionary fortification of foods.

Health Canada is trying to give birth to this policy for the past 4 years but in vain.

In December 2008, the Canadian Ministry of Health has yet published its strategy to modernize the regulation of food and nutrition2. The goal: to promote more flexibility to encourage innovation in food products whose health benefits have been demonstrated.

But last March, a draft regulation to the adoption of this policy has been withdrawn after the Canadian Medical Association has criticized the government’s intention to allow the enrichment of junk food.

This is no longer the case now. This is good news, according to nutritionist Véronique Provencher.

“Allowing improve the image of junk food through enrichment could encourage people to consume more, which would have been disastrous in terms of public health,” explains Professor attached to the Institute of Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods (INAF) of Laval University.

A “halo” that eat more

Are we really trying to eat more junk food enriched with vitamins or minerals? Yes, according to Véronique Provencher who also specializes in the impact of health claims on consumption.

“For example, in a study I conducted, women exposed to the health virtues of simple biscuits have eaten more than in the case of biscuits which posted no health claim, says she , indicating that the addition of vitamins and minerals provides a “halo” products of junk food.

Yes to innovation, but …

If Health Canada seems determined to exclude the junk foods that can be enriched, Véronique Provencher remains defiant.

“As Health Canada has not confirmed he will remain vigilant because the food industry puts a lot of pressure to have free rein, on behalf of food innovation and competitiveness”, alleges she .

She said a stricter policy will not preclude innovation. “The food manufacturers could turn to the development of new products from the best nutrients, as is done at the INAF from grain or dairy products, advance Véronique Provencher.

Beware, however: in Canada, the challenge is so much to overcome deficiencies in vitamins and minerals, but rather to limit overconsumption, “she concluded.