Ranchers rejoice at Health Canada’s reversal on warning labels

Canadian ranchers got their wish.

Health Canada recently announced plans to put a warning label on foods that have 15 per cent or more of the recommended daily intakes of sodium, sugar and saturated fat, which would have included ground beef or pork.

After loud protests from the beef industry, Health Canada has changed its course Thursday, meaning ground meat will be exempt from the warning labels.

Ryder Lee, CEO of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association, said the decision is great news for ranchers around the country.

“We had hoped for this,” Lee said. “There was a lot of confusion in the proposal and what that might do for people doing home cooking and scaring them away from a good ingredient.”

Lee, along with many ranchers, has been very outspoken in recent weeks, sharing concerns surrounding the labels. An online petition was launched to help make sure the change didn’t go through.

The CEO said he felt the labels would have vilified the industry.

“The problem was putting a warning on the front of it and being the only country that does that,” Lee said. “It would kind of make it stick out like a sore thumb.”

Dan Howell, who ranches cattle near Disley, said he was also happy about Thursday’s announcement.

“I’m glad they listened,” he said. “I’m surprised they did. Whatever product it is, I don’t think it’s going to help when there’s a warning label on something.”

Foods in small packages along with butter, sugar, salt and other products such as honey, maple syrup and seasoning salt will also be exempt from the labelling rules.

Some products will still get the new labels, starting in 2026. Health Canada said the new labels will complement, rather than replace, the more detailed nutrition information that’s listed on the back of food packaging.

These labels will be in place for pre-packaged foods with high levels of saturated fat, sugar or sodium.