Mixed messages: evaluating the concurrent presence of nutrition and health claims and front-of-pack warning symbols in five food categories in Canada

Objective This study aimed: 1) to characterize the use and prevalence of nutrition and health claims (NHC), and 2) to examine the association between NHC and the potential presence of Health Canada’s front-of-pack (FOP) nutrition symbol indicating high saturated fats, sugars and/or sodium on a sample of Canadian prepackaged food products. Design A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on five categories of prepackaged food products. Label components were classified using the INFORMAS labelling taxonomy. Products’ nutritional profile was evaluated using Health Canada’s FOP symbol nutrient thresholds for saturated fats, sugars and sodium. Setting Data were obtained from the Food Quality Observatory database, collected between 2018 and 2022 from food retailers in Québec City and the Greater Montreal Area or online. Participants A total of 2,937 food products were evaluated from five food categories: Breakfast cereals (n=392), Cookies and granola bars (n=983), Flavoured milks and plant-based alternative beverages (n=202), Salty snacks and crackers (n=1063) and Yogurts and plant-based yogurt alternatives (n=297). Results Overall, 74.2% of food products had a NHC and 28.9% had a NHC and would require to display the FOP symbol. Food products that would require the FOP symbol were less likely to carry a NHC. Conclusions The results demonstrate substantial use of marketing techniques highlighting positive product attributes. Given the potential for inconsistent messaging on food products carrying NHC and the FOP symbol, these results highlight an opportunity to improve Canadian labelling regulations by restricting the use of NHC on products high in saturated fats, sugars and/or sodium.