Are Harsh Regulations Causing Health Food Stores to Go Out of Business?
After nearly half a century of serving the Ottawa community, Kardish Health Food Centre has closed its doors, a stark emblem of the mounting pressures facing natural health retailers.
Under the weight of regulations introduced by Health Canada in 2004, the natural health industry in Canada is buckling—pushing up costs for consumers and diminishing access to trusted, expert-backed products. Alarmingly, a simple risk analysis revealed that people are 17 times more likely to be struck by lightning than harmed by a natural health product, yet the regulatory machinery remains unrelenting
This wave of closures isn’t just about economics—it’s about losing valuable health resources. As consumers turn to cheaper, unregulated U.S. online options, they bypass the in-store guidance that fosters educated, safe use of natural health products. Worse yet, new fees from Health Canada are looming, threatening further price hikes and product scarcity.
Want the full story? Click through to read the in-depth article and discover what the NHPPA is doing to counteract this troubling trend.
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