Canadian meat retailers seek exemption of ground beef from health warning label law

Canadian ground beef processors and retailers are requesting authorities not to flag their products under a health warning label law against food and beverages with over 15 percent of the recommended daily allowance for saturated fat, salt, or sugar per serving.

In a few weeks, regulations for the health nutrition warning labels are expected to be released by Health Canada, the agency in charge of government health initiatives.

Certain dairy products and whole-muscle meats will be exempt from the ban on certain food categories. Ground beef processors and retailers are attempting to have that excluded as well, arguing that their fat content is already regulated and stated on the packaging.

The meat industry and a few conservative lawmakers have pushed for a complete postponement of the warning system's implementation. But proponents point out that since 2016, Health Canada has been having conversations about it.