Healthy Eating Strategy: Improve Nutrition Quality & Protect Vulnerable Populations

Question 1

Aim of Healthy Eating Strategy to imrpove nutrition quality of foods

Answer 1

• Ban of trans fats
• reduce sodium in food

Question 2

Sodium requirements

Answer 2

• AI: 14 years and older 1500 mg per day
• UL:14 years and older 2300 mg per day

Question 3

Average intake of sodium in Canadians

Answer 3

most consume too much; on average 2760 mg per day
* 5.69 grams table salt = ~2300 mg sodium

Question 4

Where do Canadians get their sodium?

Answer 4

• bakery products ~20%
• mixed dishes ~20%
• processed meat products ~11%

Question 5

required actions to recude sodium

Answer 5

• changes in consumer behaviour
• reduction of sodium in food supply

Question 6

Health Canadas sodium reduction strategies

Answer 6

• increasing awareness and education
• Suggestions for voluntary sodium reduction targets for food industry by 2025 (previously failed 2010-2017)
• Support research
• Regulation development of food and beverage advertisement to children

Question 7

Aim of Healthy Eating Strategy to protect vulnerable populations

Answer 7

restrict marketing of unhealthy food and beverages to children

Question 8

previous industry voluntary self-regulation to reduce marketing to children

Answer 8

Childrens Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CAI) in 2007 by food and beverage industry and discontinued in 2020
* Tried to promote and support healthy dietary choices to children by setting own standards and self-regulated
* Had weak nutrition standards
* still advertised ads online - bottom line still want to make money
* no improvements in nutritional quality
* Need for mandatory regulations and legislation

Question 9

What is a major determinant of the Canadian food environment

Answer 9

Food and beverage industry
* heavily lobby for their interests and attempt to influence gover

Question 10

WHat happened with Bill S-228?

Answer 10

A federal act to prohibit food and beverage marketing to children introduced in 2016 but died on the Order Paper after parliment dissovled for 2019 federal election.
* Lots of lobbying from food industry occured during this time and have lots of interactions with high ranking government officials so more influential

Question 11

What are some strategies used by industry to infleunce nutrition policy such as Healthy Eating Strategy?

Answer 11

• Shape the evidence (do own research)
• policy substitutions (propose alternatives)
• Frame the debate (shift blame to individual)
• Stress economic importance (number of jobs supported)