Snowbird Alert source: Newscanada.com What are “supplemented foods” and how do I learn more? You’ll find a lot of advice online about supplements. But have you heard of supplemented foods? Some supplements and supplemented foods can contain the same ingredients and, therefore, should not be consumed together. Supplemented foods are packaged foods or drinks with one or more supplemental ingredients added to them, such as caffeine, minerals such as calcium, vitamins such as vitamin C and amino acids such as L-leucine. Some of these products carry cautions about consuming supplements and supplemented foods together. To help you find these cautions easily, Health Canada introduced new regulations that require updated labels for supplemented foods. As of January 1, 2026, all supplemented foods will be required to have these new labels, but you might start seeing them sooner. Supplemented foods with cautions will carry an identifier with an exclamation mark and the words “Supplemented” and “Health Canada” on the front of the label, alerting you to read cautions written on the back or side of the product. An example of a caution is: “Do not eat or drink on the same day as any other supplemented foods or supplements with the same supplemental ingredients.” All supplemented foods will have a supplemented food facts table instead of a nutrition facts table. This will include the same nutrient information, with the addition of a “Supplemented with” section listing the type and amount of each supplemental ingredient. Learn more about supplemented foods and their labels at canada.ca/supplemented-foods. 3 tips for growing older with your pet The idea of “growing old together” is a goal to which many of us aspire. It doesn’t matter if that special someone walks on two legs or four – both of your needs will change as you enter your golden years together. Age gracefully along with your furry (or scaly!) family member with these tips: 1. Stay physically active and make your space more accessible for both of you. Reduced mobility is a common aspect of aging, and it applies to you as well as to your pet. You may be used to your pet running circles around you or jumping up to your highest shelves but, as you two continue together, your pet’s mobility will decrease faster than yours. Stairs can be challenging for aging pets to climb. Keep an eye on them and consult with your veterinarian if you have concerns about your pet’s mobility. 2. Watch what you (and your pet) eat. A good diet may be an obvious part of a healthy lifestyle, but it’s essential for both you and your pet. You may both want to try some changes to your meals as you age. Speak with your veterinarian to make sure that you are providing healthy and high-quality food for your animals. 3. Use medication responsibly for both your pet and yourself. Your pets can get sick just like you, and they may be prescribed an antimicrobial medication, such as an antibiotic, to help them get better. It’s essential that you both take medications exactly as prescribed by your veterinarian or doctor. Not following the directions for medication use can cause antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which means the medications that treat bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses are less effective, or not effective at all. This could mean your pet’s or your short-term infection is harder to treat, and can contribute to the longer-term problem of AMR. 8 | www.snowbirds.org
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