Tag Archives: Give me a break

Separate the science from the science fiction

“I’d love to see something about the latest hype out there. For example, I heard that Dr. Oz was telling people that red palm oil is a miracle weight loss food and now health food stores can’t keep it in stock. It would be interesting for you to sort out truth from fiction on some […]

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Top five signs for spotting health washing

“Freshness wrapped up. Try our new Signature McWrap®. With 100% seasoned chicken breast (grilled or crispy) and crisp, fresh veggies all wrapped up in a soft whole wheat tortilla, it’s a breakthrough way to think about lunch.” That’s how McDonalds describes their newest offerings, the Signature McWraps.  It’s a perfect example of health washing – […]

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Have you been a victim of health washing?

Most people think they’re pretty savvy when it comes to making smart food choices.  Food companies and fast food chains, though,  may use bait and switch practices – getting patrons in the door with the lure of healthy eats only to offer sodium- and sugar-laden options. But even when we’re really determined to make enlightened […]

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Reading the news may be bad for your health

Just as Bill C-460 The Sodium Reduction Strategy for Canada Act was defeated by the Canadian government, the headlines on sodium seemed to back up the MPs who have abandoned their constituents’ health. But keep in mind that headlines are meant to catch your attention and as happens all too often, they don’t tell the […]

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Just what you need: a bacon burger wrapped in a pepperoni pizza

Are we witnessing another amazing race – the pursuit to see which fast food outlet can add the fattiest, highest sodium and calorie item to their menu. I say amazing because what is happening simply boggles the mind. Are these companies bringing these items to the marketplace simply for their shock value and publicity? While […]

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Health Canada’s stance on the Daily Values boggles the mind

Last week I reported that Health Canada was MIA.  I had asked specific questions of them as they would not give me a general comment about my  op-ed. It called them out for their using 30 year old information  as the Daily Values (DV) found on food packages and as part of a current educational […]

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Health Canada: M.I.A.

What did the folks at Health Canada think of my op-ed in the Ottawa Citizen: Take food labels with a grain of salt? It’s a question I wanted answers to. After all, my reasons for writing it were twofold: firstly to let Canadians know about the sham that is called the Daily Value and secondly, […]

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Nutrition misinformation: brought to you by Health Canada

If you’re looking for smart food choices, do not read the  Percentage Daily Value (% DV) on food labels. It’s a recipe for confusion. The % DV is supposed to tell you how much of a certain nutrient you need in a day. The problem is that the figures Health Canada is using bear no […]

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