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FDA Urged to Stop Formula Companies from Selling Sugary Drinks as “Formula” to Toddlers
Why you need to eat fewer ultra-processed foods like frozen pizza and granola bars
Sugar reduction reformulation progress: 77% of Canadian food and beverage products saw no changes in sugar levels over 4-year period
Food Navigator
Using the University of Toronto’s Food Label Information Program database, researchers analyzed products from 2013 to 2017 and found most (76.6%) did not undergo changes in sugar levels, 12.4% had a decrease in total sugar and 11% had an increase in total sugar contents. You can read the article here
Taxing sugar levels in soda could prevent 2 million US cases of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, study says
CNN
Taxes on sugary drinks, a new study has revealed, can lead to major health gains and reductions in health care costs — but just how much of a benefit they provide can vary by the design of the tax. Read the article here
Study of supermarket meals gives food for thought
Seattle Turns Soda Tax Revenue into Emergency Grocery Vouchers During Pandemic
Next City
Seattle is using its soda tax fund to provide emergency $800 grocery vouchers for 6,250 families. Sent in two installments, the first round of vouchers that can be put toward groceries have already been mailed. The second round will be mailed in April. Read the story here
Combatting a sweet tooth: the role of health marketing
Biomedical Central
A recent study published in BMC Public Health aimed to determine whether Public Health England’s Sugar Smart campaign was effective in altering dietary behaviour, by assessing any impact of the campaign on sugar intake among children aged 5-11 years. Overall it was found that the health marketing campaign raised awareness of sugar in food and drinks in both parents and children, impacting food consumption in families. Read the article here
Cereal numbers may be deceiving
Reuters (appeared in the Montreal Gazette)
You can find the study here (paywall)
“Sugar Tax” being Applauded by Health Advocate Groups in BC
Radio NL
Dr. Tom Warshawski is praising the BC government’s decision to add the “sugar tax” to soft drinks, but believes more could be done. “I think taxes on sugary products are important, but it should be an excise tax that only the federal government can do. But, these types of discussions are really important because there’s a lot of marketing around drinking sugary drinks, in favour of it and kids are bombarded by it.” Read the article here
See also The Globe and Mail (subscriber paywall)| Doctor says B.C.’s tax on sugary drinks will help kids lose weight, improve health