Updated as of August 2022
Health Canada recently announced new amendments to the Natural Health Products Regulations, which now include enhanced labelling for priority food allergens. The labelling of these allergens is now required on the labels of these products, including vitamins, minerals, probiotics, herbal remedies, homeopathic and traditional medicines; such changes will be seen over the next few years starting in 2025, with full compliance by 2028.
FACT: Not yet. Health Canada’s food allergen labelling regulations require the inclusion of the common name of the priority food allergens, gluten sources (wheat, triticale, barley, rye, oats) and added sulphites on the labels of pre-packaged foods with these ingredients. This requirement will now apply to natural health products like vitamins, minerals, probiotics, herbal remedies, homeopathic and traditional medicines. While all ingredients on natural health products need to be on the label, there is a new requirement to highlight food allergens in a special “Allergen” section on the label.
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Tags: Food labelling, mythbuster