Canada's Dietary Guidelines: Section 2 Foods and beverages that undermine healthy eating

Some forms of food processing, such as pasteurization, have public health benefits. However, processed foods and beverages  have the potential to negatively impact health when their regular consumption is likely to contribute to excess sodium, free sugars, or saturated fat. This section focuses on these foods and beverages and how their regular intake over time can contribute to poor diet quality. Prepared foods and beverages from restaurants and other similar establishments, and those prepared at home can also contribute to excess sodium, free sugars, or saturated fat. Though less healthy choices will be made at times, what matters most is what people consume on a regular basis. Table 3 lists convincing findings that support Guideline 2.

Guideline 2

Processed or prepared foods and beverages that contribute to excess sodium, free sugars, or saturated fat undermine healthy eating and should not be consumed regularly.

Considerations

Sugary drinks, confectioneries and sugar substitutes

• Sugary drinks  and confectioneries should not be consumed regularly.
• Sugar substitutes do not need to be consumed to reduce the intake of free sugars.

Publically funded institutions

• Foods and beverages offered in publically funded institutions should align with Canada’s Dietary Guidelines.

Alcohol

• There are health risks associated with alcohol consumption. 

Processed or prepared foods and beverages that contribute to excess sodium, free sugars, or saturated fat undermine healthy eating and should not be consumed regularly.

Rationale 

Many terms such as ‘minimally processed’ or ‘ultra-processed’ are used to categorize foods as healthy or unhealthy. The term ‘highly processed products’  is used in this report to describe processed or prepared foods and beverages that contribute to excess sodium, free sugars, or saturated fat when consumed on a regular basis. This includes processed meat, deep-fried foods, sugary breakfast cereals, biscuits and cake, confectioneries, sugary drinks, and many ready-to-heat packaged dishes.

In recent years, the availability and consumption of highly processed products has increased significantly.^{Footnote 1} This shift in consumption patterns has been linked to the global rise in obesity rates.^{Footnote 2Footnote 3} Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer.^{Footnote 4Footnote 5Footnote 6Footnote 7Footnote 8Footnote 9Footnote 10} Taking action to reduce the intake of these highly processed products can help reduce important risk factors for chronic disease.

Sodium, free sugars and saturated fat are considered nutrients of concern. This is because they can contribute to an increased risk of chronic disease when consumed in excess. Trans fat is also a nutrient of concern and is being addressed through a prohibition of partially hydrogenated oils in Canada.

Sodium is an essential nutrient. However, higher sodium intake is associated with higher blood pressure.^{Footnote 11Footnote 12Footnote 13Footnote 14} High blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.^{Footnote 12} Sodium is present throughout the food supply, but by far the main contributors to dietary sodium intake are processed foods. In 2017, the main contributors of sodium in Canada were bakery products, mixed dishes, processed meats, cheeses, soups, sauces, dips, gravies, and condiments.^{Footnote 15} In the population, 58% of all Canadians and 72% of children between the ages of 4 and 13 years consumed sodium above the recommended limits.^{Footnote 15}

Free sugars are monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods and beverages by the manufacturer, cook or consumer, and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit juice concentrates.^{Footnote 16} Free sugars do not include the naturally occurring sources of sugars found in intact or cut fruit and vegetables, and (unsweetened) milk.^{Footnote 16}

Beverages that contain free sugars (including 100% fruit juice) have been associated with a higher risk of dental decay  in children.^{Footnote 18} Further, the intake of foods or beverages with added sugars has been associated with an increased risk of weight gain, overweight and obesity, and type 2 diabetes.^{Footnote 13Footnote 19Footnote 20} In 2015, sugary drinks , sugars, syrups, preserves, confectioneries, desserts (including frozen dessert), and bakery products were among the main sources of total sugars in the diets of Canadians.^{Footnote 21} These foods are also sources of free sugars. Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between total, added, and free sugars.

To help reduce the intake of free sugars, the majority of total sugars intake should come from nutritious foods, such as intact or cut fruit and vegetables, and unsweetened milk.

Figure 1 : Relationship between added sugars, free sugars, and total sugars

Saturated fat is a type of fat found in foods. It is found in animal-based foods, such as cream, butter, cheeses, and fatty meats as well as some vegetable oils such as coconut and palm kernel oil, and in coconut milk. One in two Canadians consume saturated fat above the recommended limit.^{Footnote 22} Lower intakes of foods that contain mostly saturated fat, through replacement with foods that contain mostly unsaturated fat, helps lower cardiovascular risk factors such as LDL-cholesterol.^{Footnote 12Footnote 13Footnote 17Footnote 19Footnote 23Footnote 24Footnote 25} In 2015, the major food sources of saturated fat were cheeses, red meat, butter and hard margarine.^{Footnote 22}

Considerations

Sugary drinks, confectioneries, and sugar substitutes

Sugary drinks and confectioneries should not be consumed regularly.

In 2015, sugary drinks were the main sources of total sugars in the diets of Canadians, with children and adolescents (9 to 18 years of age) having the highest average daily intake.^{Footnote 21}

Sugary drinks are beverages that can contribute to excess free sugars when consumed regularly. These include soft drinks, fruit-flavoured drinks, 100% fruit juice, flavoured waters with added sugars, sport and energy drinks, and other sweetened hot or cold beverages, such as iced tea, cold coffee beverages, sweetened milks, and sweetened plant-based beverages. While 100% fruit juice, sweetened milks or fortified soy beverage provide nutrients to the diet, these products can increase the intake of free sugars. Water, unsweetened milk or fortified soy beverage, and fruit should be offered instead.

Confectioneries—which include sweets such as candies, candy bars, fruit leathers, chocolate, and chocolate coated treats—were also top contributors of total sugars in the diets of Canadians in 2015.^{Footnote 21} These products provide high amounts of free sugars with little to no nutritive value. Confectioneries can also be sticky and adhere to teeth, which can increase the risk of dental decay.

Some confectioneries and sugary drinks (such as hot chocolate and specialty coffees and teas), can also contain cream or other ingredients with saturated fat. Confectioneries and sugary drinks are not needed for healthy eating and can displace nutritious foods in the diet. Promoting the consumption of water instead of sugary drinks, and reducing the intake of confectioneries to a minimum, are important ways to help Canadians decrease free sugars intake and reduce the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dental decay.

Sugar substitutes do not need to be consumed to reduce the intake of free sugars.

Some foods and beverages (such as some fat-free yogurts and diet soft drinks) are sweetened with sugar substitutes such as aspartame, saccharin, sugar alcohols and purified stevia extract, instead of free sugars. In Canada, these sugar substitutes are regulated as “sweeteners,” a type of food additive . Food additives, including sweeteners, are subject to strict controls under Canada’s Food and Drugs Act and its Regulations to ensure their safety. The sweeteners that have been approved in Canada include sugar alcohols and high-intensity artificial or naturally sourced sweeteners. However, as there are no well-established health benefits associated with the intake of sweeteners,^{Footnote 19Footnote 27Footnote 28} nutritious foods and beverages that are unsweetened should be promoted instead.

Publically funded institutions

Foods and beverages offered in publically funded institutions should align with Canada’s Dietary Guidelines.

To create supportive environments for healthy eating, publicly funded institutions should offer healthier options that align with Guideline 1 and limit the availability of highly processed foods and beverages, such as sugary drinks and confectioneries.^{Footnote 29Footnote 30Footnote 31Footnote 32} Workplaces should take a similar approach by providing access to healthier options. Another way to create supportive environments is to limit the promotion of highly processed products in retail settings such as grocery and convenience stores.^{Footnote 30} These strategies can help promote lifelong healthy eating habits.

Alcohol

There are health risks associated with alcohol consumption.

Alcoholic beverages can contribute a lot of calories to the diet with little to no nutritive value. When alcohol is mixed with syrups, sugary drinks such as soft drinks and fruit-flavoured drinks, or cream-based liquors, they can be a significant source of sodium, free sugars, or saturated fat.

Further, the substantial disease burden attributed to alcohol intake is a leading global health concern.^{Footnote 33} There are well-established health risks associated with long-term alcohol consumption, including increased risk of many types of cancer—liver, oesophageal, mouth, pharynx, larynx, colorectal, and breast (post-menopausal)— and other serious health conditions (such as hypertension and liver disease).^{Footnote 7Footnote 8Footnote 9Footnote 10Footnote 34Footnote 35Footnote 36}

Non-fatal health and social problems are also associated with drinking alcohol.^{Footnote 35Footnote 36} The economic costs of alcohol-related harm in Canada are estimated to be more than $14 billion, with about $3.3 billion directly related to health care costs.^{Footnote 37} In 2016, there were at least 3,100 deaths related to alcohol in Canada.^{Footnote 38} In the same year, about 77,000 hospitalizations in Canada were due to conditions entirely caused by alcohol.^{Footnote 39}

People who do not consume alcohol should not be encouraged to start drinking.^{Footnote 35} If alcohol is consumed, Canada’s Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines can be used to provide information on how to reduce the risk of alcohol-related harms in both the short and long term. These guidelines set a limit, not a target.^{Footnote 35} If all Canadian drinkers were consuming alcohol within the Guidelines, alcohol-related deaths could be reduced.^{Footnote 35}

Table 3: Convincing findings^{Footnote *} supporting Guideline 2

Finding	Source of evidence
Sodium
Free sugars
Saturated fat replacement
Processed meat
Association between decreased intakes of sodium and decreased blood pressure	American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association 2013: Guideline on lifestyle management to reduce cardiovascular risk: a report of the ACC/AHA task force on practice guidelines
	World Health Organization 2012: Guideline: sodium intake for adults and children
	National Health and Medical Research Council 2011: A review of the evidence to address targeted questions to inform the revisions of the Australian Dietary Guidelines
	Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee 2010: Report of the DGAC on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Association between increased intakes of sugar sweetened beverages and increased risk of weight gain, overweight and obesity	World Cancer Research Fund International/American Institute for Cancer Research 2018: CUP expert report: energy balance and body fatness
Association between increased intakes of sugar-containing beverages and increased risk of dental decay in children	Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition 2015: Carbohydrates and health report
Association between increased intakes of added sugars (from food and/or sugar-sweetened beverages) and increased obesity risk and type 2 diabetes risk	Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee 2015: Scientific report of the DGAC: advisory report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture
Association between increased intakes of sugar-sweetened beverages and increased risk of obesity among children	Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee 2010: Report of the DGAC on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Association between replacement of saturated fat with monounsaturated fat and lowered cardiovascular risk factors	World Health Organization 2017: Health effects of saturated and trans-fatty acid intake in children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis
	World Health Organization 2016: Effects of saturated fatty acids on serum lipids and lipoproteins: a systematic review and regression analysis
	Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2010: Fats and fatty acids in human nutrition – Report of an expert consultation
Association between replacement of saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat and lowered cardiovascular risk factors	World Health Organization 2017: Health effects of saturated and trans-fatty acid intake in children and adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis
	World Health Organization 2016: Effects of saturated fatty acids on serum lipids and lipoproteins: a systematic review and regression analysis
	Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations 2010: Fats and fatty acids in human nutrition – Report of an expert consultation
Association between replacement of saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat and lowered cardiovascular disease risk	Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee 2015: Scientific report of the DGAC: advisory report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture
Association between replacement of saturated fat with unsaturated fat (especially polyunsaturated fat) and lowered cardiovascular risk factors	Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee 2015: Scientific report of the DGAC: advisory report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Agriculture
	American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association 2013: Guideline on lifestyle management to reduce cardiovascular risk: a report of the ACC/AHA task force on practice guidelines
Association between replacement of saturated fat with unsaturated fat (type not specified) and lowered cardiovascular risk factors	Health Canada 2012: Summary of Health Canada’s assessment of a health claim about the replacement of saturated fat with mono- and polyunsaturated fat and blood cholesterol
Association between replacement of saturated fat with monounsaturated fat and lowered cardiovascular risk factors and type 2 diabetes risk	Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee 2010: Report of the DGAC on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans
Association between increased intakes of processed meat and increased risk of cancer	International Agency for Research on Cancer 2018: IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans – Red meat and processed meat
Association between increased intakes of processed meat (per 50 grams/day) and increased risk of colorectal cancer	World Cancer Research Fund International/American Institute for Cancer Research 2018: CUP report: colorectal cancer
Table Footnote 1 Convincing findings are findings graded ‘High’ by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, and the World Health Organization; findings graded ‘Strong’ by the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee; findings graded ‘Sufficient’ by Health Canada; findings graded ‘Group 1: Carcinogenic’ by the International Agency for Research on Cancer; findings graded ‘Adequate’ by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition; findings graded ‘Convincing’ by the Food and Agricultural Organization, and the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute of Cancer Research; and findings graded ‘A’ by the National Health and Medical Research Council. Return to footnote * referrer

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