Four years after Health Canada said it would impose strict limits on trans fats in food products if companies didn't reduce the fat content on their own, the department has failed to move on the promise, hinting challenges facing the industry could stymie the plans.
Tony Clement declared in 2007 while serving as health minister that food companies had two years to either meet specific targets for reducing trans fats in their products or face regulations in the absence of significant progress.
The government's trans fats monitoring program ended in December 2009 showing the majority of products in key categories, such as packaged baked goods, had failed to meet the targets.
After declaring last year that regulations were still on the table because further reductions were needed to fully meet the program's public-health objectives and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, Health Canada is now edging away from its threats of action. When asked directly by Postmedia News if the government has opted against regulations, Health Canada said the department is working with industry to "clarify potential technical challenges that still remain in order to meet the reduction targets."
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