The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, a Dalhousie professor, and a Calgary political scientist are opposed to a federal proposal to slap saturated fat warning labels on Canadian beef..Jennifer Babcock, Senior Manager of Government Relations for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, says Health Canada first consulted with them on the idea in 2018, but did not confirm until March that the labels would be slapped on ground beef..“What we've been told is that these front-of-package labels are designed to help consumers make healthy eating decisions. And what the intent has always been is to purchase less ultra-processed foods,” Babcock said in an interview with the Western Standard..“The proposed regulation for ground beef, we believe, would mislead consumers in the grocery store when in fact, it's quite a healthy and affordable protein option.”.The CCA has launched a campaign page called DontLabelMyBeef.ca to inform the public and facilitate online lobbying..The site says beef is “good for you” and provides iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and other essential nutrients to Canadians in an affordable way..“Health Canada wants to put a warning label on ground beef, a natural whole food offering consumers a source of vital nutrients, including fats. At the same time, some highly processed, sugary and high-in-saturated-fat foods like soda, chips, and cookies are exempt from Health Canada’s labels. It doesn’t make sense,” says the site..Babcock says her industry just wants a level playing field..“Just as all other single ingredient whole foods [don’t require warning labels] — whether it be some dairy products, eggs, fruits and vegetables, or muscle cuts of meat — we think that ground beef should be exempt as well. If the purpose of the regulations is to encourage consumers to purchase less ultra-processed foods, then all of these Canadian-grown agriculture products should be exempt based on their nutrient value,” Babcock said..READ MORE: Health Canada proposes front-of-package health warning label for ground beef.“About 50% of the beef consumed in Canada is ground beef, so it will have a significant economic impact for beef farmers and ranchers across Canada. … If we're putting this warning label on it, what will those consumers go towards? They could in fact go towards cheaper foods that are more processed, which is exactly what Health Canada is trying to encourage Canadians away from.”.Sylvain Charlebois, a professor of food at Dalhousie University, calls the policy a “head-scratcher” for its uneven application as it targets ground beef and pork while exempting dairy..“Once you cook these products, you do get rid of the excess saturated fat, which would actually make the product comply with Health Canada's threshold. That really is somewhat insulting,” Charlebois said in an interview with the Western Standard..“Ground meat products have been part of our culinary history for centuries. That's the thing about about this policy which really makes no sense.”.Barry Cooper, professor at the University of Calgary, says discouraging beef consumption is exactly what the UN’s Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change wants..“Really demented environmentalists have said this for at least a generation,” Cooper told the Western Standard..Nearly half of Canada’s 3.7 million cattle are in Alberta, though Saskatchewan also has many herds, something Cooper believes makes the proposal to label beef palatable to Ottawa..“They may have an inkling of, 'we can do anything that we like to damage Alberta and Saskatchewan' and no one will care. We don't appear on the radar of Laurentian Canada anyhow. Who's to complain? And we'll feel so good because we will, among other things, reduce the number of cow farts.”.When asked if momentum for this policy might originate from universities, the United Nations, or the World Economic Forum, Cooper had an answer..“It's coming from all of those sources, and from the kind of general wokeness that has seemed to beset everybody who lives in fantasyland on the Rideau [in Ottawa].".“It's basically central planning. They could have just the opposite ideas, and it would make them just as happy carrying that out.”.This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, a Dalhousie professor, and a Calgary political scientist are opposed to a federal proposal to slap saturated fat warning labels on Canadian beef..Jennifer Babcock, Senior Manager of Government Relations for the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, says Health Canada first consulted with them on the idea in 2018, but did not confirm until March that the labels would be slapped on ground beef..“What we've been told is that these front-of-package labels are designed to help consumers make healthy eating decisions. And what the intent has always been is to purchase less ultra-processed foods,” Babcock said in an interview with the Western Standard..“The proposed regulation for ground beef, we believe, would mislead consumers in the grocery store when in fact, it's quite a healthy and affordable protein option.”.The CCA has launched a campaign page called DontLabelMyBeef.ca to inform the public and facilitate online lobbying..The site says beef is “good for you” and provides iron, zinc, vitamin B12, and other essential nutrients to Canadians in an affordable way..“Health Canada wants to put a warning label on ground beef, a natural whole food offering consumers a source of vital nutrients, including fats. At the same time, some highly processed, sugary and high-in-saturated-fat foods like soda, chips, and cookies are exempt from Health Canada’s labels. It doesn’t make sense,” says the site..Babcock says her industry just wants a level playing field..“Just as all other single ingredient whole foods [don’t require warning labels] — whether it be some dairy products, eggs, fruits and vegetables, or muscle cuts of meat — we think that ground beef should be exempt as well. If the purpose of the regulations is to encourage consumers to purchase less ultra-processed foods, then all of these Canadian-grown agriculture products should be exempt based on their nutrient value,” Babcock said..READ MORE: Health Canada proposes front-of-package health warning label for ground beef.“About 50% of the beef consumed in Canada is ground beef, so it will have a significant economic impact for beef farmers and ranchers across Canada. … If we're putting this warning label on it, what will those consumers go towards? They could in fact go towards cheaper foods that are more processed, which is exactly what Health Canada is trying to encourage Canadians away from.”.Sylvain Charlebois, a professor of food at Dalhousie University, calls the policy a “head-scratcher” for its uneven application as it targets ground beef and pork while exempting dairy..“Once you cook these products, you do get rid of the excess saturated fat, which would actually make the product comply with Health Canada's threshold. That really is somewhat insulting,” Charlebois said in an interview with the Western Standard..“Ground meat products have been part of our culinary history for centuries. That's the thing about about this policy which really makes no sense.”.Barry Cooper, professor at the University of Calgary, says discouraging beef consumption is exactly what the UN’s Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change wants..“Really demented environmentalists have said this for at least a generation,” Cooper told the Western Standard..Nearly half of Canada’s 3.7 million cattle are in Alberta, though Saskatchewan also has many herds, something Cooper believes makes the proposal to label beef palatable to Ottawa..“They may have an inkling of, 'we can do anything that we like to damage Alberta and Saskatchewan' and no one will care. We don't appear on the radar of Laurentian Canada anyhow. Who's to complain? And we'll feel so good because we will, among other things, reduce the number of cow farts.”.When asked if momentum for this policy might originate from universities, the United Nations, or the World Economic Forum, Cooper had an answer..“It's coming from all of those sources, and from the kind of general wokeness that has seemed to beset everybody who lives in fantasyland on the Rideau [in Ottawa].".“It's basically central planning. They could have just the opposite ideas, and it would make them just as happy carrying that out.”.This is what the Western Standard is up againstThe Trudeau government is funding lies and propaganda by directly subsidizing the mainstream media. They do this to entrench the powerful Eastern, woke and corrupt interests that dominate the political, social and economic institutions in Canada. Federal authorities are constantly trying to censor us and stop us from publishing the stories that they don’t want you to read. Ottawa may weaponize our taxes and police against us, but we’ve got a powerful ally on our side.You. Free men, and free women. We need you to stand with us and become a member of the Western Standard. Here’s what you will get for your membership:Unlimited access to all articles from the Western Standard, Alberta Report, West Coast Standard, and Saskatchewan Standard, with no paywall. Our daily newsletter delivered to your inbox. .Access to exclusive Member-only WS events.Keep the West’s leading independent media voice strong and free.If you can, please support us with a monthly or annual membership. It takes just a moment to set up, and you will be making a big impact on keeping one the last independent media outlets in Canada free from Ottawa’s corrupting influence.
