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 Canada Beef has responded to Health Canada’s proposed regulations amendment to how protein content claims are assessed in Canada by pointing to the benefits of a newer protein quality assessment method that produces more reliable results than the method currently under consideration. Protein content claims such as excellent or good “source of protein” are important for Canadians seeking to identify foods that are high in protein for their health and wellness. Canada Beef, as part of a group submission with national producer associations, recommended that Health Canada also adopt the newer more accurate protein quality assessment method, known as digestible indispensable amino acid score or DIAAS, recommended by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. Protein claims are regulated by the Government of Canada and based on specific Protein Rating (PR) criteria. For many years, the protein efficiency ratio or PER was the lone approved method to calculate the PR and determine eligibility for a protein content claim in Canada. In November 2023, the Government of Canada announced the intent to add one additional approved method for PR calculation: protein digestibility corrected amino acid score or PDCAAS. Canada Beef responded to the request for comments on the proposed regulatory amendment as both the 90s era PDCAAS, and the earlier still PER method, are outdated and less accurate than the more current method. Notably, digestion and absorption are not as well accounted for with PDCAAS, meaning this method tends to overestimate the quality of plant proteins and undervalue the quality of animal-source proteins to human health. The group submission cited the 2013 FAO expert report that recommended replacing both methods with DIAAS. Canada Beef built awareness around of the advantage of the DIAAS method including its ability to account for how well humans digest and absorb the individual amino acids within a protein - which robust data shows it does better than either PER or PDCAAS. This is important since a protein’s value lies in people’s ability to actually digest and absorb it when consumed. High-quality proteins are better absorbed which is why protein quality, not just quantity matters. It is worth noting that Canada remains the only developed country to use the PER method for foods other than infant formula. The importance of having the DIASS method added to the proposed amendment is clear; research indicates that some Canadians may not be consuming the quantity and/or quality of protein they need for optimal health, an especially important consideration for vulnerable populations such as infants, women during pregnancy and for seniors. Given the push towards plant-based diets (e.g. Canada’s Food Guide), ensuring that the protein quality of foods is characterized accurately is critical to ensuring the protein needs of all Canadians is met. Interested parties can learn more about the proposed regulations amendment in Canada in the March 2024 issue of Beef Watch.  Back to main page |
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