Nutrition Labelling
Nutrition labelling is information found on the labels of prepackaged foods. It includes a nutrition facts table and ingredient list. Adding nutrition claims is optional.
Although the purpose of nutrition labels is to provide information about the nutritional value of a food and to ensure that consumers make informed food choices, they can influence the lens of ‘good and bad’ food that champions diet culture.
What’s new?
On July 20th, 2022, Health Canada officially published the new Front-of-Package (FOP) Nutrition Labelling Regulations. The regulation will require packaged foods to have symbol on the front indicating if the food is high in saturated fat, sugars and/or sodium.
New packages will have a magnifying glass, intended to capture people’s attention and act as a quick and easy visual cue to identify foods high in the three nutrients highlighted above. The FOP nutrition symbol is intended to complement the Nutrition Facts table, displayed on the back of food packages. Health Canada states that these nutrients are being highlighted due the prevalence of heart disease, high-blood pressure and type 2 diabetes in Canada.
What does this mean for children in recovery?
If your child is living with an eating disorder, their thoughts about food and nutritional may have become obsessive and disordered. You may notice that your child is constantly checking the nutrition labels on food and using this as a tool when selecting meals. Recovering from an eating disorder with nutrition labels left and right can be overwhelming and challenging for your child.
Our concern is that this new regulation may enforce a ‘good food’ – ‘bad food’ mentality that could reinforce diet culture. We do not want your child to feel guilty when they add foods they enjoy to their shopping cart because of the nutrition labelling.
One way to limit your child’s fear of nutrition labels is for them to avoid them altogether. This process can definitely be easier said than done, but one way to make it manageable is by covering the nutrition information on packaged food. If possible, store food in reusable containers and throw away the boxes of packaged foods. Try to encourage your child to forget these labels ever existed.
How Can We Help?
Eating disorder recovery can be challenging for carers as you make decisions that support your child’s well-being. At Change Creates Change, we offer the following services to support parents through this journey:
Free Parent Webinars: On-demand webinar facilitated by Jillian, an Eating Disorder Dietitian and Therapist who helps parents and carers who have started to worry their child has an eating disorder and aren’t sure what to do next. Jillian will teach you how to detect if your child has an eating disorder, walk you through the next steps you need to take and help you problem-solve some of the obstacles in your way right now.
Free Parent Drop-in: This drop-in Parent Support Group, “Put the Kettle On” is guided by our Director, Jillian Walsh, RD, RP and is intended to be a safe space for parents and carers to discuss concerns, obstacles and challenges, share successes and provide support to one another. Virtual sessions will be held biweekly, on Mondays.
