Food Safety Tour - Learn about Healthy Eating and National Food Policy

1. Note Wednesday, 21 MARCH –FOOD SAFETY TOUR 10:25 AM START sharp, 10:55 AM FINISH Atlantic Superstore in Sydney River Map link: https://www.google.ca/maps/@46.1084683,-60.224735,17z?dcr=0 You are responsible for your own transportation to and from the store. Please use your own judgement in deciding if it is safe to travel. Also there will be a lecture on healthy eating by Ms. Teasdale, a dietitian at Sobey’s- she will lecture to us in our regular classroom at our regular time on 26 March 2018. You are responsible for Ms. Teasdale’s lecture.

2. Lecture 18- 19 March 2018 Healthy Eating Policies

3. Canada’s food guide-follow National food policy-follow once developed and released Trans fats-reduce/ better still eliminate Sodium-reduce Simple carbohydrates-reduce Fibre-increase

4. Canada’s food guide-follow for better health- new food guide to be released in 2019 to the general public New food guide is a measure of the federal governments deep concern about food insecurity both in under- and over-nutrition Food insecurity costs billions of dollars in terms of health care costs and reduced productivity which in turn diminishes the tax base and hence challenges the ability of the government to provide services that strengthen the social and economic fabric including healthcare

5. National food policy-manyof these policy ideas are currently in place but not the one umbrella of a National food policy Up to this point Canada has not had a formal National food policy to serve as this umbrella New formal food policy that emphasizes healthy living and safe, high-quality food produced by Canadian farmers and ranchers- this means improving food security in Canada and all the economic spinoffs of such- name some of these economic spinoffs

6. New National food policy seeks to: • increase access to affordable food; • improve health and food safety; • conserve our soil, water and air; and • grow more high-quality food. In short, food security is at the heart of the new policy but this may be hard to achieve with so many competing interests

7. National food policy development • Witnesses noted that food is a complicated subject that involves many players from various sectors. Canada’s food system includes a large number of stakeholders that play crucial roles throughout the agri-food chain, from production and processing all the way to the consumer’s table. • The food policy is expected to be released in early 2018. Since many stakeholders with different perspectives are involved and given the complexity of developing a national food policy, Cam Dahl, President of Cereals Canada, sounded a note of caution. He suggested that the policy development process not be rushed, as it requires an ongoing dialogue. Mr. Dahl said, “A hastily constructed policy will undoubtedly miss key elements that are important both to Canadian society as a whole and to Canadian agricultural producers.”

8. National food policy food growers, processors and retailers want profits, environmentalists-want ecosystem protection which may limit food production and activists want social justice- food security that does not cost the disadvantaged in society too much money – thus tough to get a national food policy that isn't watered down and ineffective in terms of food security that all can afford.

9. National food policy- recommendations for inclusion Recommendation 1 • The Committee recommends that the Government recognize that Canadians have the right to adequate nutrition and that the Government of Canada align its policies to achieve this goal for all Canadians.

10. National food policy Recommendation 2 • The Committee recommends that the Government implement measures to provide for an adequate supply of more affordable, safe, high-quality and nutritious food for Canadians, especially vulnerable populations in Canadian society, such as children, Canadians living in poverty, Indigenous peoples and those in remote and Northern communities.

11. National food policy- Recommendation 3 • The Committee recommends that the Government support the implementation of initiatives to combat food insecurity in Indigenous and northern communities by reviewing the Nutrition North Canada program.

12. National food policy Recommendation 4 • The Committee recommends that the Government provide support for the growth and development of local and regional agriculture Recommendation 5 • The Committee recommends that the Government help implement initiatives, such as a federal, provincial and territorial recognition protocol for animal care, that bring producers and consumers closer together in order to strengthen and maintain public trust.

13. National food policy Recommendation 6 • The Committee recommends that the new food guide be informed by the food policy and include peer-reviewed, scientific evidence and that the Government work with the agriculture and agri-food sector to ensure alignment and competitiveness for domestic industries. Recommendation 7 • The Committee recommends that the Government invest in awareness campaigns and education about healthy eating in order to improve the overall health of Canadians and reduce health care costs.

14. National food policy Recommendation 8 • The Committee recommends that the Government support the Canadian organic sector by providing ongoing funding for the Canadian Organic Regime. The Committee also recommends that the Government support the growth of exports and ensure that the sector can meet the growing demand for organic products. • Recommendation 9 The Committee recommends that the Government streamline approvals of new biotechnology innovation, such as seeds and plant breeds.

15. National food policy Recommendation 10 • The Committee recommends that the Government, in conjunction with all members of the supply chain, establish education tools and take action to reduce industry food loss and consumer food waste.

16. National food policy Recommendation 11 • The Committee recommends that the Government continue and increase efforts and investments to assist the agriculture sector in continuing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to improve environmental practices, with an emphasis on conservation of soil, water, and air. Recommendation 12 • The Committee recommends that the Government continue to support domestic growth in the regional agriculture and agri-food sector, as well as in the industries under supply management.

17. National food policy Recommendation 13 • The Committee recommends that the Government continue to support domestic growth in the regional agriculture and agri-food sector, as well as the industries under supply management by ensuring that the outcomes of a renegotiated NAFTA do not erode the domestic market on which they rely. Recommendation 14 • The Committee recommends that the Government continue to focus on export growth in Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sectors, with a view to increasing Canadian agricultural exports to at least $75 billion per year by 2025, and reducing barriers to export growth

18. National food policy Recommendation 15 • The Committee recommends that the Government not increase the financial burden for Canadians, making the cost of food more expensive, and for our farmers who rely on export markets and must remain competitive. Recommendation 16 • The Committee recommends that the Government, in partnership with community groups and non-governmental organizations, invest in community-level action in the areas of innovative agriculture initiatives, food security, food literacy, and food loss and waste.

19. National food policy Recommendation 17 • The Committee recommends that the Government strengthen programs to support farmers and food processors in their efforts to innovate and adapt to changing production conditions and market demands. Recommendation 18 • The Committee recommends that the Government take a whole-of-government approach to ensure market access for Canadian producers in key export markets and address trade irritants and non-tariff barriers.

20. National food policy Recommendation 19 • The Committee recommends that the Government enhance tools to support young farmers and new entrants into agriculture and that the Government work with farmers to better accommodate the intergenerational transfer of family farms. Recommendation 20 • The Committee recommends that the Government, in partnership with provincial and territorial governments, take steps to ensure sufficient labour is available in the agriculture and agri-food sector, including through the temporary foreign workers program to attract and retain talent, with a possible path to permanent residency.

21. National food policy Recommendation 21 • The Committee recommends that the Government establish a national food policy advisory body consisting of the key government departments, the agriculture and agri-food sector, academia, Indigenous peoples and civil society.

22. Man made trans fats-reduce/ better still eliminate them in the human diet as they serve no biochemical purpose Trans fats of concern are the partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (man-made trans fats) –such trans fats increase the risk of heart disease (good cholesterol down and bad cholesterol up) Man made trans fats may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes

23. Man made trans fats Government of Canada has banned man made trans fats in foods effective 15 September 2018. This includes both domestically produced and imported products and foods, as well as those that are prepared and served in restaurants and food service establishments. Naturally occurring trans fats occur in milk and meat from ruminant animals- these are low in quantity and of a structure that does not confer significant cardiovascular disease or type 2 diabetes risk

24. Sodium-reduce • Canadian government wanted to reduce sodium intake to 2300 mg by 2016; hypertension epidemic is a significant concern • Voluntary compliance by the food industry was/is poor • Currently, Canadians consume about 3400 mg of sodium each day • That is well above the Canadian Hypertension Society recommended intake of 2000 mg/day

25. Sodium-reduce Presently there is no Canadian federal government plan to make companies reduce sodium content of foods-why?? (hint:remember it took over 30 years of pushing to get the Canadian federal government to ban trans fats)

26. Simple carbohydrates-reduce 4 March 2015: A new WHO guideline recommends adults and children reduce their daily intake of free sugars to less than 10% of their total energy intake. (strong recommendation). A further reduction to below 5% or roughly 25 grams (6 teaspoons) per day would provide additional health benefits. Currently this 5 % is only a conditional (as opposed to strong recommendation) This 5 % level includes naturally occurring and added sugars

27. Simple carbohydrates-reduce Presently Federal government in Canada has no specific recommendation beyond that which is in the 2007 Canada food guide A proposal of 100 grams of sugar (added and naturally occurring) each day was made in 2014 by the Conservative government in Ottawa was considered laughable as it was only 10 grams less than what most Canadians were already taking in (and that amount already greatly exceeded the WHO guidelines)

28. Fibre-increase Generally Canadians are not getting enough dietary fibre and therefore are not realising the benefits of sufficient dietary fibre Such benefits include reduced risk of chronic diseases such as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes Presently, Federal government in Canada recommends 25 grams / day for a 2000 kcal daily diet is appropriate for disease risk reduction- this represents about 25 grams of fibre per day for females and 38 grams of fibre per day for males

29. Canada-federal government-healthy eating https://www.canada.ca/en/services/health/campaigns/vision-healthy-canada/healthy-eating.html

30. Nova Scotia government-healthy eating and activity levels https://thrive.novascotia.ca/

31. Cape Breton-follows provincial and federal lead Healthier eating options in schools in Cape Breton Victoria Regional School board are now being provided- for example the deep fryers are gone and there is an emphasis on healthier meals being served

32. Internationally World Health Organisation- simple sugars, sodium and fat intake recommendations Simple sugars- 4 March 2015: A new WHO guideline recommends adults and children reduce their daily intake of free sugars to less than 10% of their total energy intake. A further reduction to below 5% or roughly 25 grams (6 teaspoons) per day would provide additional health benefits. Currently this 5 % is only a conditional (as opposed to strong) recommendation. This 5 % level includes naturally occurring and added sugars-no current recommendation in Canada Sodium - 2000 mg/day max-inconsistent with current Health Canada recommendation of 2300 mg/day max Fat- <30 percent of calories from fat with an emphasis on unsaturated fats (mono- and poly-unsaturated fats)-semi-consistent with current Health Canada recommendation of 25-35 percent of calories from fat; WHO- reduce dietary trans fats, Canada to eliminate man-made trans fats in 2018

33. Healthy eating policies are directed at improving food security in terms of reducing both under-nutrition (including safe food) and over-nutrition

34. Class exercise- is a new food policy for Canada doable in light of conflicting interests? If it is doable, will it achieve food security?