Canary seed has finally received novel food status from Health Canada as well as GRAS status or Generally Recognized as Safe status from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
 
So what does that mean?

Canary seed flour can be used to make bread, cookies, cereals and pastas while whole seeds can be used in nutrition bars and sprinkled on hamburger buns in place of sesame seed.

David Nobbs, Chair of the Canaryseed Development Commission of Saskatchewan says this is great news for producers and the industry.

"In order to really get this industry moving we've got to open up into new markets and we gotta look for new opportunities, that started in 2006 or even earlier and today we're able to kind of push forward into these human food markets and in the US."

While canary seed is gluten free, those individuals with a food allergy to wheat may also be allergic to a protein in canary seed.

Provincial Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart was on hand for the announcement, "I think this boads well for the future, I think it will take a little tiem for canary seed to be widely accepted in food products but it has some advantages."

Next the industry will need to dehull the crop for food use.