It’s not “GR-R-REAT!” news for children’s health as Prime Minister’s promise to stop junk food marketers from targeting kids falters

June 6, 2024 – Parents struggling to stop the sway Spiderman and SpongeBob have on their children’s food choices are at risk of losing a key tool promised by the federal government, as plans to restrict junk food marketing to kids are being stalled. The delay is unfolding as a new Heart & Stroke poll* shows that nearly 70% of Canadians support Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s longstanding commitment to restrict unhealthy food advertising to children, the last outstanding element of his Healthy Eating Strategy. Read more…

Federal Budget 2024 hits the spot with $1-billion for national school food program

April 16, 2024 – Heart & Stroke is thrilled the 2024 Federal Budget includes funding for a Canada-wide school nutrition program that will support an estimated 400,000 kids annually by providing a nutritious meal at school. Read more…

Eat, think and be merry: A national school nutrition program will help kids thrive

April 2, 2024 – Heart & Stroke applauds the federal government’s announcement today promising substantial, dedicated funding of $1 billion over five years for a National School Nutrition Program. This commitment was first made in the government’s 2021 election platform. Read more…

Privacy loophole leaving kids exposed to fast food ads served up right to their digital devices

October 3, 2023 – A gap in online privacy protection is leaving Canadian children vulnerable to a diet of unrelenting fast-food ads served up direct to their personal devices, a new study has found. Read more…

Heroic Paw Patrol pups and fun-loving Trix Rabbit are influencing children’s preferences for unhealthy foods

June 13, 2023 – From goofy SpongeBob SquarePants to cackling Count Chocula, new research points the finger at the lovable cartoon characters as supervillains in enticing kids to choose junk foods. Read more…

Health Canada takes kids’ health to heart with nutrition policy update

April 25, 2023 – Heart & Stroke welcomes the much-anticipated policy update and consultations from Health Canada proposing restrictions on the advertising of unhealthy food and beverages to children under the age of 13. Read more…

Marketing to kids glut in restaurants, stores, raises concerns

March 21, 2023 – Marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to kids is ubiquitous in point-of-sale locations across Canada, like grocery stores, restaurants and corner stores, according to new research from the University of Waterloo. The report, which compiles data from over 2000 restaurants and 800 stores that sell food, details how food and beverage companies employ dozens of tactics to market their products directly to children. Read more…

Coalition praises new bill to stop food and beverage marketing to kids

Bill C-252 undergoing second reading debate

Ottawa, ON – May 6, 2022 – The Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition commends Patricia Lattanzio, Member of Parliament for Saint-Léonard—Saint-Michel, as she moves Bill C-252 to second reading today in the House of Commons. Private Member’s Bill C-252 aims to prohibit the marketing of food and beverages high in sugar, saturated fats or sodium to children under 13 years of age. Read more…

Sugary Drinks : Over-consumed, unnecessary and harmful

June 7, 2021 – Coalition Poids, The Childhood Obesity Foundation and Heart & Stroke call on all levels of government to follow the lead of Newfoundland and Labrador and introduce a sugary drinks levy that can be reinvested in prevention as a promising strategy to bring greater health and economic benefits. Read more…

Pediatricians urge Senate to pass children’s health bill: Bill S-228 will die if not passed by end of session

June 17, 2019 – The Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition is calling attention to a communication to Senators in The Hill Times urging the Senate to pass Bill S-228 before the end of the current parliamentary session. Known as the Child Health Protection Act, the bill would restrict the marketing of foods and beverages high in sugar, salt and saturated fat to children 12 and under. The communication, an urgent plea to senators, was placed by the Canadian Paediatric Society (which is an endorsing organization of the Coalition) and the Pediatric Chairs of Canada. Read more…

Canadians served opportunity to have their say about healthy eating

July 30, 2017 -Heart & Stroke welcomes the recent announcement by Health Canada to launch two public consultations as part of its Healthy Eating Strategy. These consultations will allow Canadians to have input around two public policy areas that can significantly support them to be able to make healthy food choices for themselves and their families. Read more… 

16 and Under Campaign

May 23, 2017 – To rally support for federal legislation intended to restrict food and beverage marketing to all children in Canada, Heart & Stroke’s next step in its fight against marketing to kids uses a new (and entirely fictional) advertising agency called “16 and Under” that exclusively creates ads targeting kids. Read more…

The food and beverage industry is marketing our children and youth to death

February 1, 2017  –  New research reveals advertising restrictions urgently needed to protect kids and support parents. Read more…

Celebrity Chef and Health Experts Stir Up Excitement Around Childhood Obesity

October 7, 2016  –  Jamie Oliver and Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition identify areas for immediate action. Read more…

Health coalition gives proposed legislation to protect children a gold star

September 28, 2016  – The Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition applauds Senator Nancy Greene Raine for introducing legislation prohibiting food and beverage marketing to children. Read more…

Heart and Stroke Foundation applauds Senate committee recommendations

March 1, 2016  – The Heart and Stroke Foundation praises the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology for its comprehensive report on obesity and important nutrition policy recommendations that will have a real impact on the health of Canadians. Read more…

Health organizations tell food industry: pick on someone your own age

February 24, 2016 – Co-led by the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Childhood Obesity Foundation, the Stop Marketing to Kids Coalition says the time has come to protect children and to support parents to make healthy decisions for their families. Read more…

85% of Canadian parents want government to place limits on advertising unhealthy foods and beverages to children

May 9, 2013  – Approximately 20 health organizations have joined together in light of Canada Health Day 2013 to support of a policy statement calling for a restriction on marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children. Read more…