The 16-member alliance has been fighting for better labelling for more than 3 years. Use of the new, highly informative labels will likely become federal policy in 2001; manufacturers will then have 2 years to comply. The alliance is led by the Centre for Science in the Public Interest (Canada), a nonprofit consumer health organization.

"Only 50% to 60% of foods have any nutritional information," says CSPI spokesperson Bill Jeffery. Health Canada says that current nutrition labelling is fully voluntary, looks different on different foods, and "when it is present, it usually gives information on only a few nutrients."

The proposed labels will help parents be more aware of nutritional content, says Jeffery. "It will be great to see the total sugar and calories listed on soft drinks. That will make people think twice." Health Canada estimates that costs related to unhealthy eating total more than $6.3 billion per year.

The proposed "Nutrition Facts" box will provide information on calories and the 13 nutrients considered most important to health: fat, saturated fat, transfat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fibre, sugars, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron.