Food and Nutrition Directorate
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What we do
The Food and Nutrition Directorate (FND):
- establishes standards, policies and regulations to reduce chemical, microbial and nutritional risks associated with the food supply
- develops healthy eating policies and guidelines to promote and support the nutritional health and well-being of people in Canada
- provides advice and information on food safety, the nutritional quality of food and healthy eating
We ensure that our work reflects the best available evidence by:
- conducting surveillance and research
- staying up to date with the latest developments in nutrition, healthy eating and food safety
We work closely with partners, stakeholders and international bodies to:
- share information
- set international standards
- guide and implement our work
- increase global understanding of food safety risks and nutritional characteristics of food
Learn more:
Bureaus
The directorate is composed of 6 bureaus:
The Bureau of Chemical Safety
The Bureau of Chemical Safety works to ensure chemicals aren't present in foods at levels that may pose a health risk.
The bureau does this by:
- establishing standards, policies and regulations to manage the presence of chemicals in foods
- conducting risk assessments for country foods and for foods containing:
- food allergens
- food additives
- gluten sources
- chemical contaminants
- supporting federal policies and regulations through surveillance and research of food chemicals
- evaluating the safety of additives, technological innovations and packaging materials used in the food supply
- providing scientific advice on food irradiation, chemical hazards and safe manufacturing processes
The Bureau of Microbial and Toxicological Food Safety (formerly the Bureau of Microbial Hazards)
The Bureau of Microbial and Toxicological Food Safety (BMTFS) works to protect the people in Canada by reducing risks from microbial contaminants and toxicological hazards in food.
The bureau addresses microbial pathogens and toxicological hazards in food through a range of scientific research, policy and regulatory activities, including:
- Human health risk assessments: supporting risk management decision-making to prevent and reduce foodborne illness.
- Novel food oversight: assessing and managing the safety of novel foods before they enter the food supply.
- Provision of advice and education: providing guidance to consumers and interested parties about safe food handling and cooking practices to minimize risks associated with foodborne pathogens.
- Applied food safety research: generating scientific data, evidence-based information, and expert advice on foodborne pathogens and potentially hazardous chemical substances in the food supply in support of regulatory activities related to microbial and chemical hazards in food. Through microbial, toxicological, and pathology-based research, scientific evidence is generated which informs risk assessments, policies, and guidance. A key strategic focus is the adoption of validated new approach methodologies, including in vitro and other non-animal models, to reduce reliance on traditional animal models while strengthening the scientific data used to support Health Canada's mandate to protect the safety of foods available to Canadians.
- Development of federal policy, regulations and guidelines: providing oversight on microbial safety of the Canadian food supply.
These activities support Health Canada's overall mandate to protect the health and safety of people in Canada through a coordinated, science-based approach to food safety.
Learn more: Research activities and national reference service laboratories
The Bureau of Nutritional Sciences
The Bureau of Nutritional Sciences leads efforts to address nutritional risks associated with the food supply and to support the nutritional health and well-being of people in Canada.
The bureau does this by:
- establishing standards, policies and regulations pertaining to the nutritional quality of the food supply, including:
- health claims
- nutrition labelling
- nutritional composition (for example, the addition of vitamins and minerals to foods, sodium reduction targets)
- conducting pre-market assessments and providing regulatory guidance on submissions related to:
- health claims related to foods
- the nutritional quality and safety of infant nutrition products, supplemented foods, dietary fibres
- conducting nutritional safety and risk assessments of certain food ingredients, processes and foods to support compliance and enforcement actions undertaken by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- conducting research and surveillance activities, such as:
- nutrient analysis in foods
- measurement of nutritional biomarkers to inform nutritional risk assessments, standard setting and policy making
- develops evidence-based dietary guidance for use by health professionals, policymakers and the public
- supports the integration of dietary guidance into relevant policies and programs, including those led by partners and stakeholders
The Bureau of Policy, Intergovernmental and International Affairs
The Bureau of Policy, Intergovernmental and International Affairs leads, coordinates and supports the advancement of domestic and international policies, standards and regulations related to food safety and nutrition.
The bureau supports key government processes by:
- collaborating with stakeholders, provincial and territorial partners, other jurisdictions and international bodies on key food priorities
- developing and analyzing food policies, and designing and implementing regulatory frameworks
- managing regulatory updates through the incorporation by reference (IbR) process
- maintaining interagency relationships, ensuring policy and program alignment through its role as Secretariat for the Federal, Provincial and Territorial Food Safety Committee
- leading the directorate's broader international activities, developing and coordinating the directorate's positions with various bilateral and multilateral fora, and managing bilateral relationships with key international partners
- leading and coordinating the Food and Nutrition Directorate's activities within the Codex Alimentarius Commission, including being the Codex contact point for Canada
Learn more: Food and nutrition international activities
The Bureau of Data, Science and Knowledge Integration
The Bureau of Data, Science and Knowledge Integration provides the FND with a wide range of expertise and services, including biostatistics, bioinformatics, social science research and knowledge translation. The bureau also coordinates food and nutrition surveillance activities to guide risk analysis, standard setting, research, policies and regulations.
To achieve this, the bureau:
- conducts statistical analyses for risk modeling, exposure assessments and public health surveillance
- provides bioinformatics and data science support, to acquire, analyze and interpret complex data
- provides strategic leadership and expert guidance on food and nutrition surveillance methodologies
- facilitates the integration of surveillance results and their dissemination through the design and development of data tools
Bureau of Business Systems and Operations
The Bureau of Business Systems and Operations supports food safety and nutrition programs, and maintains a safe and healthy work environment for FND employees.
The bureau:
- manages finance, administration and governance processes
- oversees infrastructure, accommodations and integration of departmental and directorate planning
- coordinates information management support
- ensures emergency preparedness and business continuity planning
- supports occupational health and safety within the directorate
Additionally, the bureau manages the Submission Management and Information Unit (SMIU), which coordinates and supports bureaus and acts as the single contact point for pre-market submissions from stakeholders.
Learn more: Pre-market oversight of food products sold in Canada
Related links
Contact Us
E-mail: food-aliment@hc-sc.gc.ca