Elon's DOGE Eggs Along Bird Flu, KFC Crosses the Road to Texas, the World Needs Ukranian Ag, & Food Politics & Consumer Trust: A Deep Dive with CHFA's CEO & President Aaron Skelton

The latest The Food Professor Podcast episode dives deep into the regulatory landscape shaping Canada's natural health product sector. Hosts Michael LeBlanc and Sylvain Charlebois sit down with Aaron Skelton, President and CEO of the Canadian Health Food Association (CHFA), to discuss pressing industry challenges and opportunities.

With 82% of Canadians using natural health products, the CHFA is pivotal in advocating for businesses navigating Health Canada regulations, labelling laws, and cost recovery fees. Skelton shares insights into the Save Our Supplements (SOS) campaign, an initiative pushing back against policies that could increase costs and reduce product availability. He emphasizes the need for regulatory balance that fosters innovation while maintaining consumer safety.

The conversation also covers the impact of rising tariffs on Canadian manufacturers, making it harder for local brands to compete with international markets. Skelton highlights the urgent need for policies that support domestic food production and streamline interprovincial trade.

Shifting gears, the hosts explore consumer trust and transparency in health products. With increased scrutiny over false claims and misleading marketing, third-party certifications like B Corp and Canadian Organic Certification have become crucial in building credibility. Skelton stresses that transparency—not perfection—is key to maintaining consumer confidence.

In the news, we touch on Elon's DOGE cuts to the USDA and their potential impact in Canada, Loblaws' multi-billion-dollar investment, the pause in Saskatchewan's canola processing plant, and KFC's surprising corporate relocation from Kentucky to Texas, as well as the state and future of agriculture in the Ukraine and the practical economics of adding hens in your back yard to make your eggs.

This episode is packed with insider knowledge on food safety, economic policy, and industry regulation, making it a must-listen for food professionals, policymakers, and consumers interested in the future of Canada's health and wellness sector.

About Us

Dr. Sylvain Charlebois is a Visiting Professor in Food Policy and Distribution at McGill University and a Professor in Food Distribution and Policy in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University in Halifax. He is also the Senior Director of the Agri-food Analytics Lab, also located at Dalhousie University.

Known as “The Food Professor”, his current research interest lies in the broad area of food distribution, security and safety. He is one of the world’s most cited scholars in food supply chain management, food value chains and traceability with over 775 published peer-reviewed journal articles. Dr. Charlebois is also an editor for the prestigious Trends in Food Science Technology journal. 

He co-hosts The Food Professor podcast, discussing issues in the food, foodservice, grocery and restaurant industries and which is the most listened Canadian management podcast in Canada. 

Every year since 2012, he has published the now highly anticipated Canadian Food Price Report, which provides an overview of food price trends for the coming year. Furthermore, his research has been featured in several newspapers and media groups, nationally as well as internationally. He has testified on several occasions before parliamentary committees on food policy-related issues as an expert witness. He has been asked to act as an advisor on food and agricultural policies in many Canadian provinces and other countries.

With extensive experience collaborating with businesses, governments, and NGOs, Dr. Charlebois combines academic rigor with practical expertise, making him one of the most influential voices in the global agri-food landscape. His work continues to advance the understanding of food systems, fostering innovation and resilience in a rapidly evolving industry. In 2025, he received the prestigious Charles III medal recognizing his tremendous work in informing Canadians about food issues.

 Michael LeBlanc is a senior retail advisor, keynote speaker and media entrepreneur. Michael has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions hosted senior retail executive on-stage in 1:1 interviews worldwide. Michael produces and hosts a network of leading retail trade podcasts, including The Remarkable Retail Podcast, The Voice of Retail, The Food Professor, The FEED powered by Loblaw and the Global eCommerce Leaders podcast.  He has been recognized by the National Retail Federation (NRF) as a global Top Retail Voice for 2025 and 2025, and continues to be a ReThink Retail Top Retail Expert for the fifth year in a row.