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By Chris Brown (CHAT News Today) and Josh Hall (rdnewsNOW)

Support from province

Alberta producers, UCP and Opposition want ground beef exempted from labelling requirements

Jun 15, 2022 | 11:53 AM

Livestock producer associations are requesting ground beef to be exempted from proposed federal labelling requirements and have the support of the Alberta government.

Health Canada’s proposed front-of-package regulations would require ground beef sold at retail to carry a “high in” saturated fat warning label. This would set it apart from other single-ingredient foods, such as meat, milk, eggs, vegetables, and fruit.

“Alberta farmers and ranchers are struggling right now, and the federal government should be championing our industry in the middle of a global food shortage, not working against it,” says Dr. Melanie Wowk, Alberta Beef Producers chair, in a news release. “Between the rising cost of electricity, fuel, natural gas, and fertilizer, and a severe drought that has added water scarcity and increased costs in animal feed, many producers have been forced to downsize their herds and sell their cattle.”

Nate Horner, the provincial minister of agriculture, forestry and rural economic development, says the federal government’s labelling proposal is scientifically baseless and will unfairly affect families struggling with high costs of living and would be an extra kick to producers already working to get back on their feet.

“Every Canadian should take pride in the fact that Alberta’s livestock producers drive economic growth by feeding the world with high-quality meat. Imposing these warning labels sends a negative message to customers and makes our producers less competitive in the global economy,” he said in a statement.

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Health Minister Jason Copping said the decision was made without consultation with the provinces, and called it inconsistent with the treatment of other products and that it should be reversed.

Meantime, the NDP Oppositions in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are urging the federal government to scrap proposed changes to food labelling on ground beef and pork.

Saskatchewan’s agriculture critic Trent Wotherspoon says the labelling changes will hurt producers by suggesting to consumers that beef and pork are dangerous.

Wotherspoon sent a letter to Ottawa, signed by his counterparts in Alberta and Manitoba, outlining their concerns.

“I have heard firsthand from beef and pork producers in Alberta that requiring this new label will hurt the industry,” said Heather Sweet, Alberta NDP critic for agriculture. “I am glad that my colleagues in Saskatchewan and Manitoba agree and that we are uniting our voices to tell the federal government to pause this plan and speak directly with producers in the prairies.”

Sweet, speaking at the Alberta Beef Industry Conference in Red Deer, added, “It is clear that more consultation and direct communication with Canadians has to take place. Alberta’s NDP is committed to listening to producers in the province and advocating on their behalf to all levels of government.”

(with files from The Canadian Press)