Why the New Food Guide Matters
Why the New Food Guide Matters
For the first time in over a decade, Health Canada has released its new food guide. Although very few people gave much thought to the document last decade, dismissing the updated Canada’s Food Guide upon our past experiences is misguided. From the rations in the World Wars to the emergence of fast food chains across the country, food shapes the demographics and culture of society. Yet, we have lost our values of healthy nutrition in only a few generations, with four million Canadians, including 1.5 million children, having household food insecurities [1]. Access to healthy food is inhibited by a sinister greed for money and political influence that topples over the true need for proper nutrition. It is clear that an updated food guide is long overdue—but please, free it from politics. Pay no attention to the unfounded criticism from industry lobby groups; Canada’s future will be glad to know it was worth the wait.
Past food guides were almost illegible: confusing serving size numbers were never memorable and food groups were too broad for adequate nutrition portions. More importantly, they were never created in the interests of Canadian citizens. Instead, the documents rendered the common perception of nutrition illegitimate, painting a blur of misinformation used by food industry leaders and corporations to maximize Canadian agricultural profits. What should have been a bright image of healthy eating at home was instead a masked model for industry lobbyists’ economic and political gains. Drafts of food guides were sent to companies before consumers [2]. Unreasonable changes were made to match the demands of industries. The Canadian Meat Council complained that the 1992 Food Guide only recommended 1-3 servings of meat and alternatives. The guide was changed to please the council, increasing the servings count to 2-3. The Grocery Products Manufacturing Council had the audacity to suggest that “extras” was too negative and inappropriate for labelling harmful junk foods. Somehow, despite the obvious consequences of high fat and chemical concentrations, Health Canada still complied. Besides replacing the section title with “other foods”, the guide incorporated a preposterous description commenting on the “taste and enjoyment” of such foods [2].
After the inclusion of the meat and dairy industries as independent food groups, families started overconsuming and overspending on unnecessary products. Although dairy and meat are quite important to the Canadian economy, greedy industry leaders must make substantial sacrifices to improve the livelihoods of millions of Canadians. While lobby groups actively protest in fear of monetary losses in their industries, they should remember that it was originally unethical leverage that brought remarkable industry growth. Health Canada has finally come to realize the consequences of dealing with industry lobbyists, deliberately refusing meetings with officials in their deliberations for the recent food guide. New statements by Health Canada even concede that “more than 60% of the choices in the meat and alternatives group failed to match food guide recommendations.” [2]
Moreover, Canada’s Food Guide is the second most requested federal document after the federal tax forms [3]. Although most households have never depended on it, there has been an undeniable importance for it in the medical and education fields. Health professionals and teachers incorporate it as part of their work, because it is a single reputable source that is available across the nation. Even though Canadians may not realize its impact on their nutrition, the food guide still influences the general opinion on balanced and healthy diets. In its first update since 2007, the food groups are replaced by three proportions: vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and protein foods (meat, dairy, and alternatives). The short guide details some foods to choose from, placing emphasis on drinking water and also addressing how we should eat—healthy eating is also the lifestyle surrounding the food. The tenet of the new guide focuses on plant-based sources of protein and reducing processed or fatty meats [4].
Nonetheless, Canadian nutrition remains at risk from predicaments set by political agendas. With the federal election in six months, many of the proposed changes to commercial nutrition may face a complete reset in deliberation. Important projects such as nutritional labels with high salt and fat content warnings are essential to the longevity of Canadian children. If adults do not even read the small fine print for nutritional information, how are children expected to make healthy choices? Placing large and comprehensible indicators with hazard symbols will detract from the appeal of the product, but that is the point. It is impermissible to continue allowing these companies to package snacks that chip away at an unsuspecting child’s lifetime. Despite child obesity tripling over the last three decades, television advertisements continue to target these already-inactive youth lifestyles [5].
The time has come for the democratization of healthy eating. While countries such as Brazil have followed this model of proportions for ages, Health Canada has ironically ignored the interests of public health. This change in nutrition marks a revolution in culture, identity, and quality of life. However, freeing Canadian nutrition from its past flaws and industry influence is far from over. Support must be garnered to support a quick exit from the political dungeon. Families and children of Canada await a decision on the health of their future lifestyle and culture—whether they are aware of it or not—as the clock ticks to more delays and industry intervention. The 2019 Canada’s Food Guide makes incredible progress towards a healthy future, but other nutrition proposals must follow for the sake of Canada’s future.
Citations/ References
[1] https://proof.utoronto.ca/
[2] https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/the-politics-of-food-guides-1.1268575
[4]https://food-guide.canada.ca/en/
[5] https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/childhood-obesity/childhood-obesity.html
