Friend to Dietitians for Professional Integrity Dr. Yoni Freedhoff of Ottawa shares some pretty stellar news today about a new position statement — titled “Sugar, Heart Disease, and Stroke” — from the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s (HSF; Canada’s equivalent of the American Heart Association).
Highlights:
- “The position statement provides a slew of recommendations… here are just a smattering:
For Consumers:
- Limiting restaurant meals out
- Limiting processed foods
- A call to return to cooking from fresh, whole, ingredients
For the Federal Government:
- Adopting the HSF’s proposed sugar thresholds
- Restricting marketing of all foods and beverages to children
- Taxing sugar sweetened beverages and using funds generated therein to subsidize fruits and vegetables
- Avoiding public health partnerships with producers and suppliers of foods high in free sugars
For Provincial Governments:
- Taxing sugar sweetened beverages and using funds generated therein to subsidize fruits and vegetables.
- Adopting a Bloomberg style large cup ban (if you want to drink a litre of Coke, you’ll still be able to, you’ll just need to buy two cups)!
For Municipal Governments, Regional Health Authorities, Workplaces and Schoolboards:
- Adopting a Bloomberg style large cup ban in food service outlets
- Banning sugar-loaded beverages in recreation centres, hospitals and schools
- Ensuring potable drinking water made more readily available in parks and public facilities
- Creating zoning laws to prevent the establishment of fast food outlets and convenience stores within walking distance of schools
- Banning the practice of junk food fundraising.”
There is a very important piece to this development — this past June, HSF cut ties with unsavory industry partners.
It’s fascinating to see how, once freed from the shackles of industry partnerships, health organizations are able to provide science-based information without fear of repercussions or being silenced. Furthermore — providing the public with information that doesn’t protect industry interests sure does a lot for an organization’s reputation and public perception.
Take note, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Read Dr. Freedhoff’s full post here: http://www.weightymatters.ca/…/canadas-heart-and-stroke-fou…
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