Washington wants healthier school meals in bid to reduce obesity in kids

School meals for millions of children will be healthier under obesity-fighting USDA standards that double the fruits and vegetables in cafeteria lunches. But french fries remain on the menu. In the first major changes to school breakfasts and lunches in more than 15 years, the new guidelines will affect nearly 32 million children who eat



What Health Canada says about pesticides and cancer

PMRA says all products undergo rigorous scientific tests STAFF / Question: Some groups indicate that there is a “growing body of evidence suggesting a connection between pesticides and cancer.” What is Health Canada doing about this? Answer: Health Canada does not register pesticides that are known to cause cancer or other illnesses when used according



CCA not surprised by latest COOL development

The U.S. government has been granted an extension to appeal the controversial country-of-origin labelling (COOL) law. In November, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled in favour of Canada and Mexico’s position that provisions of the COOL law discriminated against live hogs and cattle imported into the United States. The U.S. government was recently given an

Food industry wants say in new legislation

Food safety is a job for the companies that make food, and government should focus on setting nutrition and health standards and policing the industry. That’s the pitch being made by large processors as the federal government prepares to revamp food-safety legislation. “Let’s not lose perspective: We can’t regulate bugs out of our food,” said


South Korean beef ban lifted

Cattle producers across Canada celebrated the news that South Korea had lifted its eight-year ban on Canadian beef aged 30 months or younger Jan. 20. South Korea will begin accepting Canadian beef imports immediately. The South Korean government published its approval of the import health requirements (IHRs) and notified the Canadian government that all certification

Snacks may be beneficial

Many people grew up with the “don’t eat between meals” message, so snacking often has a negative connotation because many people associate eating between meals with weight gain. Snacking between meals has been shown to have some positive health benefits, according to several studies. Researchers studied the relationship between snacking and obesity among adolescents. According


Uncertainty surrounds food safety legislation

The food industry wants meaningful consultations with the federal government while it’s preparing new food safety legislation, but so far is only being served promises of more advisory committee meetings. Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz plans to introduce legislation in 2012 to overhaul the roles of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada, and the Public

Red meat associated with high risk for cancer

People who eat lots of red meat may have a higher risk of some types of kidney cancer, according to a U.S. study of thousands of adults. Researchers writing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that middle-aged adults who ate the most red meat were 19 per cent more likely to be diagnosed