Health Canada has proposed changes to the Food and Drug Regulations to enhance allergen labelling requirements for prepackaged foods. While Canada’s existing regulations require that ingredients of food products be declared on the labels of most prepackaged foods, the components of certain ingredients are exempt from declaration in the list of ingredients.

The new regulations would require that manufacturers declare all food allergens, gluten sources and added sulphites on labels of prepackaged foods. The regulations would also detail exactly how these allergens, glutens and sulphites are to be listed on food labels.

The proposed regulatory amendments were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I on July 26, 2008 to allow for a 90-day comment period before being finalized.

For more information on the proposed amendments go to http://hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/label-etiquet/allergen/index-eng.php