Healthy Eating Program – Stream 1
- Closing date : March 31, 2025
Overview
The Alimentation Santé Program 2023-2025 aims to support food processing businesses in Quebec by funding diagnostic studies for improving nutritional quality, with a maximum financial aid covering 70% of eligible expenses up to $100,000. Eligible activities include conducting diagnostic studies to develop healthier food options or enhance existing formulations by external consultants.
At a glance
Funding available
- Develop a new product or service
- Conduct research and development activities
- Launch or market a product/service
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
- Minimum amount : 10,000 $
- Up to 70% of project cost
- Closing date : March 31, 2025
Eligible candidates
- Manufacturing
- Québec
- Quebec
- For-profit business
- Sole proprietorship
- All revenue ranges
- All organization sizes
- All groups
Next Steps
Activities funded
The Healthy Eating Program Stream 1 supports projects that enable applicants to make informed decisions regarding the development or reformulation of food products. These projects must be conducted by an external consultant and focus on enhancing the nutritional quality of food products.
- Conducting a diagnostic study to identify opportunities for developing a food product of good nutritional quality. If the project involves a beverage, it must aim for a dietary fiber content of at least 7% of the daily value (2 g per reference amount) or the addition of a bioactive compound.
- Conducting a diagnostic study to identify ways to reformulate a food product to enhance its nutritional value, create a health-beneficial product, or reduce or eliminate food additives.
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
The grant is intended for projects that enhance the nutritional quality of processed foods or modify formulations to improve their health value by reducing additives. The evaluation and selection process assess various financial and project-related criteria.
- The compliance of the company's financial situation to ensure the project's viability.
- The relevance of the study in developing a high-quality nutritious food or in improving a product's formulation for nutritional enhancement, health value, or reduced additive use.
- The experience and expertise of the external consultant conducting the study.
Who is not eligible
This grant excludes specific companies and industries based on their status and main activity. These exclusions are designed to ensure funds are provided to entities that align with the program's health-focused objectives.
- Companies listed on the "Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics" (RENA).
- Businesses involved in producing non-eligible food products, such as animal food, nutraceuticals, and natural health products.
- Companies whose products have a Drug Identification Number (DIN), contain alcohol or cannabis, or are meal replacements or energy drinks.
- Businesses primarily engaged in restaurant activities, as these are not considered part of food processing.
Eligible expenses
The grant covers specific expenses directly related to the completion and success of the diagnostic study project.
- Fees and travel expenses for external consultants.
- Purchase of specialized information necessary for the project.
- Costs associated with research and development of eco-responsible packaging suitable for the product.
- Market research or commercialization studies.
Eligible geographic areas
This grant is intended for companies within certain geographical limits as specified by the funding guidelines. Eligible businesses must have connections to the region where the transformation of foods takes place.
- Companies registered in the Quebec Business Register.
- Businesses situated in Quebec.
- Firms having at least one establishment or branch located in Quebec.
Additional information
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- The financial aid covers up to 70% of eligible expenses, with a maximum of $100,000 per applicant for the duration of the program, and projects must incur a minimum of $10,000 in eligible expenses.
- Projects are financed privately by at least 20% and can be combined with public funding, which cannot exceed 75% of eligible expenses.
- Only expenses incurred after the eligibility date in the letter of acknowledgment are covered.
- Applicants have the option to appeal a decision within 30 days if they disagree with the evaluation outcome.
- A final report must be submitted to claim financial aid, and receipts must be kept for five years post-project completion.