Which federal act protects the health of consumers by preventing the sale of food that contains harmful substances?

The Food and Drugs Act is the federal legislation in Canada that aims to protect public health by regulating the safety and nutritional quality of food, as well as the efficacy and safety of drugs. This act establishes standards for food products, ensuring that they do not contain harmful substances that could endanger consumers' health. It empowers Health Canada to enforce inspections, establish guidelines, and recall products that do not meet safety standards, thereby directly addressing consumer protection related to food safety.

In contrast, other options, while they deal with aspects of health and safety, do not specifically target food safety in the same comprehensive manner. The Health Canada Act primarily governs the operation of Health Canada itself and its mandate, the Consumer Product Safety Act focuses on consumer goods but not specifically on food, and the Hazardous Materials Act deals with substances that could pose risks to health due to their hazardous nature. Thus, these other acts do not directly regulate food safety, making the Food and Drugs Act the most relevant legislation for preventing the sale of food containing harmful substances.