Health Canada’s Consultation on Foods for Special Dietary Use: What You Need to Know

On October 23, 2024, Health Canada launched a new consultation to propose compositional requirements for foods currently marketed as “foods for special dietary use” (FSDU). This marks a follow-up to last year’s consultation that focused on restructuring Divisions 24 and 25 to better reflect the evolving needs of Canada’s diverse population. 

The new consultation builds upon the earlier discussion, offering more detailed insights and introducing minor revisions. However, the most significant update is the introduction of a nutritional and caloric breakdown for products that will fall under this restructured category.  

The Restructuring: What’s Changing? 

Currently, Division 24 focuses on “Foods for Special Dietary Use (FSDU)” and Division 25 regulates “Infant Foods”. The restructuring proposed one division to focus on Foods for Special Dietary Purpose (FSDP), replacing products currently defined as FSDU, Formulated Liquid Diets, Foods for Very Low Energy Diets, and other products required for consumption for medical purposes. FSDP will be further divided into 3 sub-categories: infant formulas, medical foods for individuals over 1 years old, and Total Diet Replacement (TDR) used for weight reduction.  

The Formulated Nutritional Foods (FNFs) will make up the second division, focusing on foods not for special dietary purposes, but targeting individuals looking to supplement their diet with well-balanced amounts of macronutrients and micronutrients. The subcategories of FNFs are: those targeted at children (1-3 years old and 4-13 years old), those targeted to adolescents and adults (14 years +), and gluten-free foods. Meal replacements (whether they are used for weight reduction or not, excluding TDR foods requiring medical supervision during consumption) will fall under FNFs for 14 years +. 

FNFs vs. SFs: What’s the Difference? 

It’s important to distinguish Formulated Nutritional Foods (FNFs) from Supplemented Foods (SFs). While FNFs are designed to meet specific nutritional needs and must adhere to Canada’s food fortification policy, SFs are allowed to contain one or more supplemental ingredients added for purposes other than nutrition. 

How Can Dell Tech Help? 

Are you wondering how these changes will impact your products? Do you want to ensure your products are assessed according to the proposed compositional requirements? 

Contact Dell Tech today to navigate the evolving landscape of food regulation and stay ahead of the curve. Our team of experts can help you understand the new regulations and ensure your products remain compliant, allowing you to focus on what matters most: your business. 

DELL TECH HAS PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL, CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTING SERVICES TO THE SPECIALTY CHEMICAL INDUSTRY IN CANADA, THE USA, EUROPE AND ASIA FOR THE LAST 40 YEARS.