Maple Leaf Foods to Change Misleading Product Labels

TORONTOMaple Leaf Foods announced it is changing product labels on its line of Natural Selections line of deli meat products after a CBC Marketplace investigation revealed the meats contain nitrites, which may be linked to an increased risk in cancer.

According to a CBC report, one of the Maple Leaf Foods Natural Selections deli meat products contained the phrase "no added preservatives" on its packaging when in fact it contains nitrite .

Randy Huffman, chief product safety officer with Maple Leaf Foods, said: "We care deeply about the integrity of the products that we produce and the labeling is accurate. Nitrite is very misunderstood. Nitrite is actually part of a healthy, balanced diet, it's in a variety of foods that we eat every day." Huffman also noted the company's labels were developed in conjunction with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

The company sent an email to CBC Marketplace announcing it would change its Natural Selections labels to include the fact that the products contain nitrite.