Report to /
Rapport au:
Community and Protective Services Committee
Comité des services de
protection et d’urgence
and Council / et au Conseil
26 June 2007 / le 26 juin 2007
Submitted by/Soumis par : Rosemary Nelson,
Coordinator,
Community and Protective Services
Committee/
Coordonnatrice des services de protection et d’urgence
Contact
Person/Personne ressource : Alex Cullen
(613)
580-2477 Alex.Cullen@ottawa.ca
|
City-Wide/ À l'échelle de la ville |
Ref N°: ACS2007-CCS-CPS-0016 |
SUBJECT: city of
Ottawa SERVICES AND PROGRAMS – TRANS FAT FREE
OBJET: SERVICES
ET PROGRAMMES DE LA VILLE – SANS ACIDES GRAS TRANS
That the Community and
Protective Services Committee recommend that Council approve:
1. That the City of Ottawa
require by 1 January 2008, food suppliers and caterers providing services to
the City of Ottawa and its programs be processed trans fat free; and
2. That Council, in its’
role as the Board of Health for the City of Ottawa, recommend to other public
institutions in Ottawa (Public Works Canada, the NCC, Government Services
Ontario, universities, hospitals, school boards, et cetera) to adopt processed
trans fat-free policies.
Que le Comité des services communautaires et de
protection recommande au Conseil d’approuver :
1.
que, d’ici
au 1er janvier 2008, la Ville d’Ottawa requiert des fournisseurs
d’aliments et des traiteurs qui offrent des services à la Ville d’Ottawa et à ses divers
programmes de fournir des aliments ne contenant pas d’acides gras trans
artificiels;
2. que le
Conseil, en tant que Conseil de santé de la Ville d’Ottawa, recommande à
d’autres institutions publiques d’Ottawa (Travaux publics Canada, la CCN, le
ministère des Services gouvernementaux de l’Ontario, les universités, les
hôpitaux, les conseils scolaires, etc.) d’adopter des politiques en matière
d’aliments sans acides gras trans
artificiels.
On 21 June 2007, Councillor Cullen put forward the
following Notice of Motion, for consideration at a subsequent meeting:
Whereas processed trans fats have been identified as a health hazard,
responsible for thousands of heart attack deaths; and,
Whereas the City of Ottawa’s Public Health Branch, along with the
Ontario Ministry of Health, supports programs and activities to promote healthy
eating, including the reduction of processed trans fats in daily diets;
Whereas the City of Ottawa, consistent with other programs, should set
an example to its residents;
Therefore be it resolved that the City of Ottawa require, by 1 January
2008, food suppliers and caterers providing services to the City of Ottawa and
its’ programs to be processed trans fat free;
And that the City of Ottawa, in it’s role as the Board of Health for the
City of Ottawa, recommend to other public institutions in Ottawa (Public Works
Canada, the NCC, Government Services Ontario, universities, hospitals, school
boards, et cetera) to adopt processed trans fat-free policies.
CONSULTATION
Ottawa Public Health
The most recent statistics for
Ottawa reflect that heart disease remains the leading cause of deaths and
hospitalizations in our community. We
have significant morbidity and mortality caused by cardiovascular disease.[1] Current scientific
research indicates that trans fat is a type of fat that raises the risk of
heart disease. While some trans fat
occurs naturally, most is artificial.
Artificial trans fat is manufactured through a chemical process. It is found in partially hydrogenated
vegetable oil. Common sources of artificial
trans fat in the North American diet include the following: vegetable
shortening and margarine; foods fried in partially hydrogenated vegetable oil
(PHVO); prepared foods such as donuts, crackers, cookies and pies and prepared
mixes. Trans fat is the most dangerous
type of dietary fat.
In 2006 the federal Trans Fat
Task Force (co-chaired by Health Canada and the Heart and Stroke Foundation)
issued the report TRANSforming
the Food Supply, which investigated the health risks of trans fats and
recommended placing limits on artificial trans fats in foods (i.e., no more
than 2% in vegetable oils and margarines; no more than 5% in other foods).[2]
Ottawa Public Health is strongly supportive of the report
findings of the Trans Fat Task Force.
Further, Ottawa Public Health is strongly
supportive, in principle, of the City demonstrating leadership on this issue by
taking appropriate actions within the context of our jurisdictional scope of
activity. Adopting policies consistent with those proposed in the
recommendations above, and advocating to others that they adopt similar
policies, would be such actions.
In Ottawa, Public Health dietitians are involved in counseling as well as several public education programs in schools, restaurants and workplaces that involve the promotion of healthy eating, of which trans fat awareness is a component. Health Canada’s “Eating Well With Canada’s Food Guide” contains specific messaging to “limit trans fat”. Ottawa Public Health staff use this document as part of presentation and promotional material to educate various audiences on the components of healthy eating.
Since limiting trans fat in the diet is part of an overall healthy eating message, Ottawa Public Health could expand on current programming such as the Eat Smart! Programs to include more sites (schools, workplaces and restaurants) as well as city facilities such as licensed Day Cares and Long Term Care homes.
The Eat Smart! program is a provincial awards program presented by Ottawa Public Health to local restaurants, school and workplace cafeterias that meet high standards in healthy food choices. To qualify, participating organizations must meet standards pertaining to nutrition, food safety and non-smoking
Currently, Ottawa
Public Health in partnership with the Ontario Public Health Association is
designing an Eat Smart! strategy for use in recreation facilities. This will allow for healthier choices in
tuck shops, snack bars and catering facilities. By educating food providers on healthy choices, including the
risks associated with trans fat and alternatives to trans fat, they are better
able to provide a larger number of healthy food choices. This is an important step in changing the
food environment in schools, restaurants, workplaces and recreation facilities,
among others.
Vending Machines in City of Ottawa Recreation Sites
Another program
which, provides residents with healthier food choices is the Fuel to
Xcell/L’Xcellence ça se nourrit program. Successfully piloted in 2004, this
program was developed by Ottawa Public Health to help consumers make healthier
choices from vending machines. One key feature of the Fuel to Xcell/L’Xcellence
ça se nourrit program is a colour coding system whereby all snacks and
beverages are assigned a colour code based on a nutritional rating system.
Within this system, snacks that have the most nutritional value are coded
green, and snacks with some nutritional value are coded yellow. Snacks with no
colour code have little or no nutritional value and consumers are encouraged to
select these items less often. In
August 2005, Ottawa Public Health and the City purchasing department developed
a Request for Proposal (RFP) for a healthy snack/food and beverage vending
service at City of Ottawa recreation sites. The contract required the vendor to
use the Fuel to Xcell/L’Xcellence ça se nourrit program in the 94 snack and
beverage vending machines located in 52 City facilities. The contract stipulated that within the
first three years, the supplier must increase the percentage of vending
selections rated as healthy (green or yellow categories) from 30% to 50%.
The period of
contract was from the date of award in 2005 to September 30, 2008, and may be
extended for two (2) additional one (1) year terms. Therefore, the first opportunity to introduce trans fat free
terms with the vendor will be in October 2008.
To proceed with a total ban on artificial trans fat foods could create the possibility of vendors substituting products that could be less profitable affecting the revenue generation for some groups (for example hockey associations running canteen operations). If Council direction would impact negatively on the contractors’ revenues from various operations, it is our experience that the organizations or vendors will seek compensation or a reduction in rent to prevent a breach of their contract.
Food Services in City-operated Day Cares
The Province stipulates that nutritious meals and snacks have to be served in full day care programs and that snacks must be served in school age programs. The Ministry does not however, extensively regulate the specific nutritional value of the food services and current regulations focus on reducing the risk of food allergies. Food supplies to day care centres is complicated without a complete individual review. In some instances employees purchase and produce the food in City facilities, and in others the food is purchased through catering vendors.Without consulting each program and service individually, it would not be possible, in the short-term, to determine the exact extent that artificial trans fat foods figure into the diets of the children. A thorough examination must also take place to determine how significant the financial, logistical, and supply impacts would be on these day-to-day operations. One approach that could begin in the short term would be to solicit voluntary compliance. Child care centres are presently striving to eliminate trans fats. The Child Care Policy on The Delivery of Nutritional Snacks and Lunches to Children and the Canada Food Guide help in significantly reducing trans fats as well. Furthermore, the City of Ottawa’s Public Health Branch dietician is preparing resources that will be incorporated into our programs. An attempt can certainly be made in eliminating trans fats, but eliminating them completely is a challenge (trace amounts of trans fats are found in many foods) therefore a complete review needs to be done and contractors and vendors need to be consulted.
Food Services in City-Operated Long Term Care
Homes
The Ministry of
Health and Long Term Care regulates the nutritional standards of all food
services in the City’s Long Term Care Homes.
The nutritional standards are based on the Canada Food Guide and all
meal menus meet the standards. Our
primary food supplier is working with all manufacturers on the trans fat free
initiative and keeps us informed by regular newsletters. Many manufacturers
have moved towards trans fat free products and most are moving that way. The Long Term Care Homes will continue to
seek trans fat free options when purchasing food.
Vending
Machines in Long Term Care Homes
The City has another
contract for vending machines in the City’s four Long Term Care Homes. The goal of the vending machine service is
to provide nutritional options for residents while balancing the need for
individual choice related to snack options.
The Fuel to Xcell Program could be expanded into this venue.
City of Ottawa Cafeterias
Currently, approximately 10 vendors provide
cafeteria food and beverage services within City of Ottawa facilities. Half of these vendors have contracts with
the City with expiry dates happening between 2009-2015. The Eat Smart! Workplace Cafeteria is
currently operating in one City facility and could be expanded into the
remaining venues.
City of
Ottawa Canteens
The City deals with
over 34 vendors (ranging from small minor hockey associations to larger
catering vendors) to supply the City’s many canteens in the large and small
arenas, pools, parks, and large recreation facilities. Consultation with these vendors would be
necessary to determine the impact on the viability of their contracts before
restricting all processed trans fats from their products lists. The new Eat Smart! Recreation Program would
apply to these types of settings.
Supply
Management
In general, Supply Management issues tenders for cafeterias/canteens
when they generate revenues of more than $10,000.00. Parks and Recreation Branch solicit bids for locations that are
predicted to earn less than $10,000.00.
Supply
Management issues a Request for Proposals (RFP) when searching for a vendor for
a cafeteria/canteen. The current RFP
process requires the proponent to submit a sample menu and prices. The City does not place restrictions on the
types of foods that may be offered, although quality standards and health
conscious alternative food choice policies are in place.
Proponents
propose a menu and price list based on a profitable business plan for a
given location. Proponents bid the
amount of rent offered to the City, based on the proposed menu and its
estimated revenue potential.
Changing or
restricting the type of foods that the contractor may offer could
alter current revenue sources and, therefore, could substantially change
the contract. Changes to the contract
would require renegotiation of contracts, cancellation and re-tender, or
delaying implementation until renewal or expiry of current contracts.
To enter into
negotiations with the current contractors would require the City to either
provide a suggested list of trans fat free alternatives, or to ask the
contractors to propose compliant alternatives.
Without knowing what trans fat free products are available in the
market, it is difficult to estimate the feasibility of renegotiating or
re-tendering contracts by January 2008.
We can predict
that small canteen operators and large cafeterias would face different challenges
in accommodating the trans fat free policy.
Canteens sell confections and fast food, while cafeterias sell a
complete range of confections, fast food, and prepared foods.
At the request
of Public Health, the Eat Smart and Fuel to Xcell nutrition policies are
included in large cafeteria contracts for locations such as Constellation.
Current nutrition policies ask for alternatives, as opposed to the elimination
of products. Supply would continue to rely on the expertise of Public Health or
other clients to determine nutrition policy / requirements included in RFP
Terms of Reference.
Summary
Due to contractual requirements with the City’s food and beverage
vendors, a complete restriction on all processed trans fat in cafeterias,
canteens, vending machines and City-operated food and beverage programs for 1
January 2008 is not feasible. However,
a viable approach would be to
wait until contracts come up for renewal, as the City cannot compel canteens to
do this under their current contracts.
And, including an Eat
Smart! Program requirement in upcoming RFPs would allow for a reduction of
trans fat in foods offered at City of Ottawa venues. Setting high standards for the provision of healthy food choices
at all City facilities would provide consistent messaging about the importance
of healthy eating.
FINANCIAL
IMPLICATIONS
There are no
financial implications associated with this report
Community and Protective Services to coordinate implementation of any direction received as part of consideration of this report.
[1] Ottawa Public Health (2006). City of Ottawa 2006 Health Status Report: “Measuring health in Ottawa to build a stronger and healthier community”. Ottawa, Ontario.
[2] Health Canada (2006). TRANSforming the Food Supply. Report of the Trans Fat Task Force. Downloaded on April 24, 2007 from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/alt_formats/hpfb-dgpsa/pdf/nutrition/tf-gt_rep-rap_e.pdf