A report that all Canadians have been waiting for: A whole-of-society approach for a healthier Canad
- Mar 3, 2016
- 3 min read
Is Eating Well With Canada's Food Guide useless and harmful?
According to a senate report, it is. Below is the summary of the report:
REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
There is an obesity crisis in this country. Canadians are paying for it with their wallets — and with their lives.
But there is hope.
An extensive study conducted by the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology charts a course to a leaner, healthier future.
Over the course of nearly two dozen meetings, the committee heard expert testimony from a range of Canadian and international stakeholders including individuals representing health and exercise professions, diet and health research sectors, food and beverage industries, Aboriginal groups, health charities, as well as the federal government.
The committee’s findings show the vast scope of this epidemic: - Each year 48,000 to 66,000 Canadians die from conditions linked to excess weight; - Nearly two thirds of adults and one third of children are obese or overweight; and - Obesity costs Canada between $4.6 billion and $7.1 billion annually in health care and
lost productivity.
This report describes an innovative, whole-of-society approach to address this important issue — and urges bold but practical steps that can and must be taken to help Canadians achieve and maintain healthy weights.
SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE REPORT
Recommendation 1
The committee recommends that the federal government, in partnership with the provinces and territories and in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, create and implement a National Campaign to Combat Obesity which includes goals, timelines and annual progress reports.
Recommendation 2
The committee recommends that the federal government:
Immediately conduct a thorough assessment of the prohibition on advertising food to children in Quebec; and,
Design and implement a prohibition on the advertising of foods and beverages to children based on that assessment.
Recommendation 3
Assess the options for taxation levers with a view to implementing a new tax on sugar-sweetened as well as artificially-sweetened beverages
Recommendation 4
The committee further recommends that the Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada immediately:
The committee recommends that the federal government:
Address the recommendations made by the Auditor General with respect to the Nutrition North program and report back to this committee on its progress by December 2016.
Recommendation 6
The committee recommends that the Minister of Health immediately undertake a complete revision of Canada’s food guide in order that it better reflect the current state of scientific evidence. The revised food guide must:
Recommendation 8
The committee therefore recommends that the Minister of Health prohibit the use of partially hydrogenated oils, to minimize trans fat content in food, unless specifically permitted by regulation.
Recommendation 9
The committee further recommends that the Minister of Health:
Reassess the daily value applied to total carbohydrates based on emerging evidence regarding dietary fat and the fat promoting nature of carbohydrates;
Require that the daily intake value for protein be included in the Nutrition Facts table.
Recommendation 10
The committee further recommends that the Minister of Health assess whether sugar and starch should be combined under the heading of total carbohydrate within the Nutrition Facts table.
Recommendation 11
The committee therefore recommends that the Minister of Health implement strict limits on the use of permitted health claims and nutrient content claims based on a measure of a food’s energy density relative to its total nutrient content.
Recommendation 13
The committee therefore recommends that the Minister of Health encourage nutrition labelling on menus and menu boards in food service establishments.
Recommendation 14
The committee therefore recommends that the federal government increase funding to ParticipACTION
Recommendation 15
The committee further recommends that the Minister of Health and the Minister of Sport and Persons with Disabilities together use the recently established National Health and Fitness Day to promote the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines.
Recommendation 20
The committee therefore recommends that Health Canada design and implement a public awareness campaign on healthy eating based on tested, simple messaging.
To read the report in its entirety, please click on the link below:
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