Food Directorate

Vision

To be the most trusted authority providing policies, standards, advice and information on the safety and nutritional value of food.

Mission

In support of Health Canada's mission to help Canadians maintain and improve their health, the Food Directorate is the federal health authority responsible for establishing policies, setting standards and providing advice and information on the safety and nutritional value of food.

Our focus is in the following areas:

• chemical and microbiological contaminants of foods, such as heavy metals or E. coli
• food additives, such as aspartame
• food processes such as canning and irradiation
• novel foods, including genetically modified foods
• nutrition, including vitamins and nutrients
• transmissible spongiform encephalopathies

Our key activities in these areas include:

• conducting scientific research
• conducting health risk and benefit assessments
• developing policies, standards and guidelines, such as for approval of new food additives
• evaluating submissions from the food industry
• providing information to support Canadians in their decisions about food and diet

Authority

We carry out our responsibilities under the authority of the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations and the Department of Health Act.

In addition, under the authority of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act, the Directorate assesses the effectiveness of the activities of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that are related to food safety.

Contact us

See also

• Reports

Bureaus

• Bureau of Biostatistics & Computer Applications
• Bureau of Chemical Safety
• Bureau of Food Policy Integration
• Bureau of Food Regulatory, International & Interagency Affairs
• Bureau of Food Safety Assessment
• Bureau of Microbial Hazards
• Bureau of Nutritional Sciences
• Office of Policy & Strategic Planning
• Regional Operations