Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Sep 18;17(18):2987.
doi: 10.3390/nu17182987.

The Relationship Between Regulatory Frameworks for Protein Content Claims for Plant Protein Foods and the Nutrient Intakes of Canadian Adults

Songhee Back  1   2 , Christopher P F Marinangeli  3 , Antonio Rossi  1   2 , Lamar Elfaki  4 , Mavra Ahmed  1   5 , Victoria Chen  1   2 , Shuting Yang  1   2 , Andreea Zurbau  1   2   6 , Alison M Duncan  7 , Mary R L'Abbe  1 , Cyril W C Kendall  1   2   8 , John L Sievenpiper  1   2   9   10   11 , Laura Chiavaroli  1   2   11
Affiliations

The Relationship Between Regulatory Frameworks for Protein Content Claims for Plant Protein Foods and the Nutrient Intakes of Canadian Adults

Songhee Back et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Background: The inability to assign a protein content claim (PCC) to plant foods may impede efforts from Canada's Food Guide to increase consumption of plant protein. A systematic application of PCC frameworks from other regions to Canadian nutrition surveillance data would be useful to model potential effects of PCC regulations on the nutrient intake, protein quality, and corrected protein intake of diets. Methods: Plant food groups that qualified for a PCC within the Canadian Nutrient File according to regulations from Canada, the United States (US), Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), and the European Union (EU) were identified. Adults (≥19 years) (n = 11,817) from The Canadian Community Health Survey (2015) who consumed ≥1 plant food qualifying for a PCC in each region were allocated to the corresponding PCC group. The effects of Canadian PCC regulations on the protein quantity, quality (Digestible Indispensable Amino Acid Score, DIAAS), and nutrient intakes of Canadian diets in adults were compared to PCC groups from other regions. Results: Substantially more individuals were consumers of plant-based protein foods, using the ANZ and the EU PCC regulations, compared to the Canadian and US PCC groups. There were no differences in uncorrected protein intake across PCC groups. All DIAAS values were >0.94, and corrected protein intakes were >74-89 g/day or 16%E across PCC groups. Non-consumers of plant foods eligible for a PCC had corrected protein intakes that ranged between 68 and 78 g/d or 17%E. Generally, consumers of plant foods eligible for a PCC in the US, ANZ, and EU, or both Canada and the US/ANZ/EU, had higher intakes of positive nutrients, such as fibre, calcium, iron, magnesium, and zinc (p < 0.05) and lower saturated fat. Conclusions: Less restrictive regulatory frameworks for PCC used in ANZ and the EU did not substantially affect protein intake or the protein quality of Canadian diets in adults. These results suggest that more inclusive regulatory frameworks for protein PCCs could support increased intake of food sources of plant proteins in alignment with Canada's Food Guide.

Keywords: Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS); digestible corrected amino acid score (DIAAS); food labelling; nutrition content claim; plant-based protein; protein; protein content claim; protein digestibility corrected amino acid score (PDCAAS); protein efficiency ratio; protein quality.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

C.P.F.M. is an employee of Protein Industries Canada and a former employee of Pulse Canada and Kellogg Canada. A.M.D. has received funding from Protein Industries Canada and is a Scientific Advisor for Soy Nutrition Institute Global. A.Z. is a part-time research associate at INQUIS Clinical Research Ltd., a contract research organization. M.L. has received funding from CIHR unrelated to this manuscript. C.W.C.K. has received grants or research support from the Advanced Food Materials Network, Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada (AAFC), Almond Board of California, Barilla, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Canola Council of Canada, International Nut and Dried Fruit Council, International Tree Nut Council Research and Education Foundation, Loblaw Brands Ltd., the Peanut Institute, Pulse Canada and Unilever. He has received in-kind research support from the Almond Board of California, Barilla, California Walnut Commission, Kellogg Canada, Loblaw Companies, Nutrartis, Quaker (PepsiCo), the Peanut Institute, Primo, Unico, Unilever, WhiteWave Foods/Danone. He has received travel support and/or honoraria from the Barilla, California Walnut Commission, Canola Council of Canada, General Mills, International Nut and Dried Fruit Council, International Pasta Organization, Lantmannen, Loblaw Brands Ltd., Nutrition Foundation of Italy, Oldways Preservation Trust, Paramount Farms, the Peanut Institute, Pulse Canada, Sun-Maid, Tate & Lyle, Unilever and White Wave Foods/Danone. He has served on the scientific advisory board for the International Tree Nut Council, International Pasta Organization, McCormick Science Institute, and Oldways Preservation Trust. He is a founding member of the International Carbohydrate Quality Consortium (ICQC), Executive Board Member of the Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group (DNSG) of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), is on the Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committee for Nutrition Therapy of the EASD and is a Director of the Toronto 3D Knowledge Synthesis and Clinical Trials Foundation. J.L.S. has received research support from the Canadian Foundation for Innovation, Ontario Research Fund, Province of Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation and Science, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Diabetes Canada, American Society for Nutrition (ASN), INC International Nut and Dried Fruit Council Foundation, National Honey Board (the U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] honey “Checkoff” program), Institute for the Advancement of Food and Nutrition Sciences (IAFNS; formerly ILSI North America), Pulse Canada, Quaker Oats Center of Excellence, the United Soybean Board (the USDA’s soy “Checkoff” program), the Tate and Lyle Nutritional Research Fund at the University of Toronto, the Glycemic Control and Cardiovascular Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Fund at the University of Toronto (a fund established by the Alberta Pulse Growers), the Plant Protein Fund at the University of Toronto (a fund which has received contributions from the IFF), and the Nutrition Trialists Fund at the University of Toronto (a fund established by an inaugural donation from the Calorie Control Council). He has received food donations to support randomized controlled trials from the Almond Board of California, California Walnut Commission, Peanut Institute, Barilla, Unilever/Upfield, Unico/Primo, Loblaw Companies, Quaker, Kellogg Canada, WhiteWave Foods/Danone, Nutrartis, and Dairy Farmers of Canada. He has received travel support, speaker fees, and/or honoraria from ASN, Danone, Dairy Farmers of Canada, FoodMinds LLC, Nestlé, Abbott, General Mills, Comité Européen des Fabricants de Sucre (CEFS), Nutrition Communications, International Food Information Council (IFIC), Calorie Control Council, and the International Glutamate Technical Committee. He has or has had ad hoc consulting arrangements with Perkins Coie LLP, Tate & Lyle, and Inquis Clinical Research. He is a member of the European Fruit Juice Association Scientific Expert Panel and a former member of the Soy Nutrition Institute (SNI) Scientific Advisory Committee. He is on the Clinical Practice Guidelines Expert Committees of Diabetes Canada, European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD), Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS), and the Obesity Canada/Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons. He serves or has served as an unpaid member of the Board of Trustees and an unpaid scientific advisor for the Food, Nutrition, and Safety Program (FNSP) and the Carbohydrates Committee of IAFNS (formerly ILSI North America). He is a member of the International Carbohydrate Quality Consortium (ICQC), an executive board member of the Diabetes and Nutrition Study Group (DNSG) of the EASD, and the Director of the Toronto 3D Knowledge Synthesis and Clinical Trials Foundation. His spouse is an employee of AB InBev. L.C. has received research funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Protein Industries Canada (Government of Canada Global Innovation Cluster), the United Soybean Board (the United States Department of Agriculture Soybean “Check-off” Program), and the Alberta Pulse Growers. She has received honoraria from the Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Plant-Based Health Professionals UK. S.B., A.R., L.E., V.C. and S.Y. declare no potential competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sample selection process. * Did not have relevant information to adjust for misreporting status based on the previously published method [21,24].
Figure 2
Figure 2
Summary of the methodology applied to evaluate the eligibility of plant BNS food groups for a PCC across regions and subsequent application to Canadian surveillance data to model the potential effects of PCC regulations on the protein, protein quality, and nutrient intakes of Canadians. CCHS, 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey—Nutrition; CNF, Canadian Nutrient File; IAA, indispensable amino acids; PCC, protein content claim; RA, reference amount; RDI, reasonable daily intake.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of plant BNS food groups that qualified for a “source” of protein content claim across regions. (A) Canada vs. the US; (B) Canada vs. ANZ; (C) Canada vs. the EU. Areas of overlap represent plant BNS food groups that qualified for a PCC in both regions. ANZ, Australia and New Zealand; EU, European Union; PCC protein content claim.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Health Canada Canada’s Dietary Guidelines for Health Professionals and Policy Makers. [(accessed on 4 February 2025)]. Available online: https://food-guide.canada.ca/sites/default/files/artifact-pdf/CDG-EN-201....
    1. Blomhoff R., Andersen R., Arnesen E., Christensen J., Eneroth H., Erkkola M., Gudanaviciene I., Halldorsson T., Høyer-Lund A., Lemming E., et al. Nordic Nutrition Recommendations. Nordic Council of Ministers; Copenhagen, Denmark: 2023. - DOI
    1. Brink E., van Rossum C., Postma-Smeets A., Stafleu A., Wolvers D., van Dooren C., Toxopeus I., Buurma-Rethans E., Geurts M., Ocké M. Development of healthy and sustainable food-based dietary guidelines for the Netherlands. Public Health Nutr. 2019;22:2419–2435. doi: 10.1017/S1368980019001435. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. German Society for Nutrition Eat and Drink Well—DGE Presents New Food-Related Nutritional Recommendations for Germany. [(accessed on 22 August 2024)]. Available online: https://www.dge.de/presse/meldungen/2024/gut-essen-und-trinken-dge-stell...
    1. Brown J., Clarke C., Stoklossa C., Sievenpiper J. Canadian Adult Obesity Clinical Practice Guidelines: Medical Nutrition Therapy in Obesity Management. [(accessed on 3 July 2025)]. Available online: https://obesitycanada.ca/guidelines/nutrition.

LinkOut - more resources