What’s in your beer? Have your say with a new public consultation on allergen labelling

Last year, many of you told the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that allergen labelling should no longer be exempt from standardized beer. This was during their initial open consultation on the proposed changes on regulations, so beer compositional standards could be updated.

Your voice was heard. The CFIA recently published their proposed amendments based on that feedback, which include new requirements for brewers to identify food allergens, gluten sources, and added sulphites for prepackaged standardized beers, ales, stouts, porters, and malt liquor.

Thank you for participating in the initial consultations and for supporting our advocacy efforts for clear labelling on beer products!

Now we need your help to ensure these changes get implemented.

Here’s what you can do:

• Get informed:
  • Click here for the current consultation request from the CFIA. You can find the “food allergens, gluten sources, and added sulphite labelling” recommendations under the “Description” section of the proposed changes.
  • Read our submission to the CFIA, where we recommend listing priority allergens on all beer products (including cases, individual bottles, cans, kegs, and on-tap containers), and having enhanced consumer and industry education.
• Provide your feedback:
  • Email the CFIA at labelling_consultation_etiquetage@inspection.gc.ca by September 14, 2018, which is the deadline for feedback.
  • Let them know that you support the current proposed amendments that no longer exempt standardized beer from allergen labelling and that they need to list all applicable priority allergen information if they are now changing what’s in standardized beer. All Canadians should have access to clear allergen labelling so they can make informed, safe decisions when purchasing food and beverages.
• Share, share, and share:
  • Share this with others and encourage as many people as possible to contact the CFIA to make our collective voice heard.

This is the opportunity to make real change happen – email the CFIA today!