What is Health Canada doing to ensure that probiotics in food are safe?
Common “probiotic” bacteria (primarily lactobacilli and bifidobacteria) added to foods have a history of safe use in food products. Live bacterial cultures added to foods are food ingredients under the food provisions of the Food and Drug Regulations. Bacterial cultures that are not novel food do not require premarket safety review by Health Canada. Under Section 4 of the Food and Drugs Act, manufacturers and importers of foods are responsible for the safety of food products they produce and sell. However, if the culture(s) meets the definition of novel food, as, for instance, in cases where there is no history of safe use in foods or the strain is genetically modified, then it would require premarket notification as per Division 28 of Part B of the Food and Drug Regulations. These provisions require demonstration of the safety of the novel food. Q5. How are health claims about probiotics in food regulated in Canada? All health claims made for food , including claims about probiotics,
