Articles

Revitalizing Canada’s Food Processing Industry

A Personal Perspective

As someone who has worked closely with Canada’s food industry, I have seen firsthand how much potential we have in processing our own raw materials into finished goods. We are a nation rich in agricultural resources, yet we often fail to capture the full economic value of what we produce. Instead of keeping production local, we export raw materials and import finished products, losing jobs, innovation, and economic security along the way. One of the least engaged and least owned areas of our economy is food processing—an industry that could and should be a cornerstone of Canadian economic strength.

So, how do we make food processing attractive again? The answer is simple: we build systems that care for workers, invest in infrastructure, and create opportunities that make this industry sustainable and desirable. When we prioritize people—through fair wages, paid leaves, healthcare, mental health support, and training programs—we don’t just improve the lives of workers; we strengthen the entire economy.

Investing in the Workforce: The Key to Strengthening Our Economy

For too long, food processing has struggled with high turnover, labor shortages, and a reputation for being a low-wage, high-burnout industry. If we want to change this, we need to invest in the workforce and in the systems that make this industry valuable to both workers and the economy.
1. Paid Leave and Health Care: A healthy workforce is a productive workforce. By ensuring workers have access to healthcare and paid leave, we improve retention, reduce absenteeism, and create more stability in the industry. When employees feel secure in their jobs, they invest more in their work, leading to higher efficiency and better-quality products.
2. Improvement Models and Skill Development: Innovation in food processing doesn’t happen in a vacuum. By providing training, technology upgrades, and pathways for career growth, we empower workers to be part of the industry's evolution. Skilled workers create higher-quality goods, making Canadian products more competitive in both domestic and international markets.
3. Fair Wages and Economic Incentives: Paying workers fairly isn’t just a moral obligation; it’s an economic necessity. Fair wages stimulate local economies, increase consumer spending, and reduce reliance on social support systems. When people earn a living wage, they reinvest in their communities, further strengthening our economic foundation.
4. Mental Health Resources and Workplace Culture: Food processing is a demanding industry. If we want people to stay, we need to create environments that support their well-being. Providing mental health resources, safe working conditions, and a positive workplace culture helps reduce turnover and ensures long-term industry stability.

Langley Foods and the Role of Smaller Co-Packers

At Langley Foods, we recognize that large-scale change happens when businesses work together. That’s why we are actively collaborating with smaller co-packers to find solutions that keep production local, innovative, and economically viable. By supporting smaller processors, we help decentralize food production, making the industry more resilient and better able to respond to market demands.

Covered Bridge Chips: A Model of Perseverance and Value Creation

A shining example of what’s possible in Canadian food processing is Covered Bridge Chips. This family-run business has faced challenges, but through perseverance, worker investment, and community support, they have built a thriving brand that delivers both economic and social value.

Just one year ago, Covered Bridge Chips experienced a devastating loss when a fire destroyed their factory. For many businesses, this could have meant the end, but Covered Bridge proved that resilience and collaboration can keep an industry moving forward. With the help of small co-packers, industry partners, and their dedicated team, they were able to continue production while rebuilding their facility. This extraordinary display of strength and solidarity is a testament to what is possible when the industry supports its own.

Covered Bridge Chips doesn’t just make great snacks—they create jobs, strengthen their local economy, and prove that Canadian processing can be both profitable and sustainable. Their journey is a powerful reminder that investing in people and partnerships leads to long-term success, even in the face of adversity.

Building a Stronger Economy Through Food Processing

By reinvesting in food processing, we don’t just create jobs—we create higher-value goods that boost our economy. When we process our own raw materials, we increase the worth of our agricultural sector, keep profits within our borders, and strengthen our economic resilience. Canadian-made food products should be known for their quality, innovation, and ethical production standards. If we put in the work now—through fair labor practices, workforce investment, and industry support—food processing can become one of Canada’s greatest economic strengths.

It’s time to change the narrative. It’s time to make food processing an industry that people want to work in, that communities benefit from, and that our economy depends on. The path forward is clear: invest in people, invest in infrastructure, and keep production local. Canada has everything it needs to be a leader in food processing—it’s time we take ownership of it.

FDA Bans Red Dye No. 3: Compliance & Imports

FDA’s recent revocation of authorization of the color additive FD&C Red No. 3 represents a decisive shift in regulatory oversight and may cause massive disruptions in the food industry. This landmark decision, prompted by a 2022 citizen petition invoking the Delaney Clause, represents one of the most significant changes to food and color additive regulations in recent memory. For companies utilizing Red No. 3, the mandate to reformulate and comply with new requirements is both urgent and unavoidable.

The Weight of Compliance Deadlines

FDA has mandated food products must remove Red No. 3 by January 15, 2027, and ingested drugs must follow by January 18, 2028. Post-deadline, products containing this additive will be classified as adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), triggering enforcement actions such as:

Mandatory Recalls: Forcing companies to withdraw products from the market, often at great expense.

Import Refusals: Blocking non-compliant goods at U.S. borders, severely disrupting supply chains.

Financial Burden: Non-compliance could result in increased regulatory scrutiny and resulting delays, tarnishing corporate reputations, jeopardizing consumer trust, and impacting revenue.

Manufacturers are now racing against the clock to implement necessary changes and safeguard their market positions.

Importers also bear a heavy burden due to the ban. Their obligations include:

Verifying supplier documentation to confirm the absence of Red No. 3.

Maintaining rigorous oversight of suppliers under the Foreign Supplier Verification Program requirement

Failure to meet these obligations risks severe penalties, including detentions and refusals of imported goods.

Strategic Steps for Compliance

To navigate these compliance complexities and minimize operational disruptions, companies must take strategic steps with precision, foresight, and commitment to meeting both regulatory demands and consumer expectations.

Reformulation and Product Integrity

Reformulating products to eliminate Red No. 3 is not simple. Its unique properties and chemical structure complicate the search for suitable substitutes with the same vibrancy. Manufacturers must:

Engage in extensive testing of alternative color additives to ensure product consistency and consumer acceptance.

Anticipate increased production costs and potential delays due to the complexities of sourcing compliant ingredients.

Coordinate reformulation efforts across global operations, especially where Red No. 3 remains permitted in non-U.S. markets.

Label Updates and Packaging Synchronization

Removing Red No. 3 requires meticulous updates to ingredient labels and packaging. These updates must align with reformulated product launches, often requiring long lead times for design, approval, and production. Failing to coordinate these changes could lead to supply chain disruptions and consumer confusion.

Staying Ahead of Regulatory Change

To navigate this evolving landscape, companies must adopt a proactive compliance approach:

Monitor regulatory developments and public comment periods to anticipate changes.

Conduct regular internal audits to identify potential compliance gaps.

Leverage expert guidance to streamline reformulation and ensure timely adherence to FDA requirements.

By acting decisively, companies can achieve compliance while reinforcing their commitment to quality and trustworthiness. As the regulatory environment grows more stringent, proactive compliance is the key to sustaining market leadership and operational integrity.

Anna Benevente holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Ms. Benevente has over 15 years of analytical research experience. As the Director of Product, Labeling, and Ingredient Review at Registrar Corp, she has been assisting companies with U.S. FDA regulations since 2009 and has researched thousands of products to determine whether they meet FDA requirements for compliance.