Nutrition report card gives Alberta a C grade – again

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CBC Edmonton
For the fourth year in a row, Alberta has received a C grade on a report card that evaluates food environments and nutrition policies for young people. The sixth annual report card grades the province’s score across five environments: physical, communication, economic, social and political.  Alberta received A grades in some areas but overall, the report found much room for improvement. The experts gave Alberta an F for failing to reduce household food insecurity and failing to restrict the marketing of unhealthy foods to children. Read the article 

Throne speech mustn’t neglect crucial Liberal pre-pandemic health commitments

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CBC

Doug Roth, CEO of Heart & Stroke, writes that the government cannot simply forget its pre-pandemic health commitments, it has an obligation to address pharmacare, charities, food and vaping regulations.  Read the article here

Confronting obesity in Canada

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Canadian Bar Association – National

The outlook for an improved food environment remains bleak as policymakers focus on stamping out COVID-19 and reviving the economy. While the early Trudeau government prioritized these health measures, it has since backed down when faced with industry opposition — and dire warnings about financial consequences. “For sure, COVID has thrown a monkey wrench in the works,” said Tom Warshawski, chair of the Childhood Obesity Foundation. Once the COVID fire is manageable, Warshawski added, legislation will get back on track. “They will make good. We can’t afford not to.”  Read the article here.

The scoop on Unilever’s new marketing commitments

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Strategy Magazine

Strategy magazine looks at Unilever’s decision to stop marketing and advertising foods and beverages to children under the age of 12 in traditional media, and below the age of 13 on social media. The article features an interview with Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition co-chair Manuel Arango. Read the article here

It costs Canada $9B to treat obesity, while barely any money is put into preventative care

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The National Post

In Canada obesity-related health care costs are as high as $7 billion and are projected to increase to nearly $9 billion by 2021. But experts say many of these costs are a result of the health care system’s failure to properly treat obesity. Rather than taking a proactive approach, the system is instead set up to treat conditions that develop as a result of the disease which results in more money being spent in the long-run. Read the article here

How sugar dies in Canada — and umami thrives everywhere else

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CBC

Overview on restrictions on marketing to children and the rise and fall of Bill S-228 due to extensive industry lobbying and procedural play. Listen to CBC’s Cost of Living Episode 6 here.

 

Weight Coalition finds too many companies are marketing junk food to kids

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CTV News Montreal

Food companies in Quebec are exploiting loopholes in the Consumer Protection Act (CPA) that prohibit commercial advertising that targets children under 13 years old. Coalition Poids identified 469 food packages targeting children from different businesses. Shop windows, displays and product packaging are not covered by the law. Read OpEd here.

To fix health care, start by making us less sick

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CBC News  

Yves Savoie, CEO of the Heart & Stroke and Nick Saul, CEO of Community Food Centres Canada write that Canadians are getting sicker at unprecedented and crisis-level rates as a result of the food we eat that is far too often high in saturated fat, salt and/or sugar, as well as a host of additives and emulsifiers. All ingredients that are common in ultra-processed foods. Read OpED here.

The Current with Laura Lynch: Childhood Obesity

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CBC Radio

Coalition co-chair, Dr. Tom Warshawki on CBC radio’s The Current with Hannah Brinsden of the World Obesity Federation discussing childhood obesity and reasonable policy interventions to protect children’s rights to health. You can listen to the interview here.

Coalition Poids: Review Food Advertising Children in Quebec

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Coalition Poids Study

Coalition Poids released their study to show how much marketing to kids is still present in Quebec.  Quebec’s Loi sur la protection du consommateur du Québec, prohibits advertising aimed at children, but excludes packaging, displays and display cases.  Coalition Poids’ study found that more than 90% of products with characters and images targeting children in grocery stores are for ultra-processed food.
You can read the press release here (French), English content here, and media coverage in Le Journal de Montreal here.