By: Joanna Chudyk, Regulatory Affairs Specialist, email
On October 20, 2022, Health Canada issued an announcement that the Daily Values (DV) for Sodium and Potassium have been revised. The industry has been given until January 1, 2026, to update labels and Nutrition Facts Tables to comply with these changes. The summary of changes is presented in the table below:
High sodium intake has long been known to be a contributing factor to hypertension and is considered a nutrient of public health concern by Health Canada. As a result, the DV has been lowered for children ages 1-4 years to 1200 mg. In contrast to the effects of sodium, increased potassium intake can help lower elevated blood pressure associated with hypertension. So, you may be wondering why the DV for potassium was decreased instead of increased. The DV revisions were based on updated data from the Dietry Reference Intakes report published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, which concluded that children and adults require lower levels than previously determined to attain normal blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
These updates to DVs will directly affect food Nutrition Facts Tables (NFTs). Additionally, more products will now qualify for potassium-related claims as the DV will be lower. Sodium nutrient content claims have not been revised.
Dell Tech is now offering consulting services for food products; from novelty determinations to supplemented food label reviews. We are here to help keep your products compliant. Contact us today for a quote!
Contact:
Dell Tech
Joanna Chudyk, M. Sc.
Regulatory Affairs Specialist
joanna@delltech.com
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