Press Releases and Publications

Montreal, September 30th, 2009 – Chips, a "smart snack"? Cookies, a "sensible solution"? These statements do not support consumers in making truly healthy choices. The Quebec Coalition on Weight-Related Problems (Weight Coalition) and Option consommateurs are asking Health Canada to regulate "Healthy" logos on food products.

"Healthy" Choices?
The Weight Coalition turned to Extenso (University of Montreal’s Referral centre on human nutrition) to establish a partial assessment about "private" logos and the nutritional and health claims that may create confusion among consumers. "The logos that are managed by companies are not subject to regulations regarding their creation by the industry, their affixing on the products and the definition of their nutritional criteria. As well, the presence of these logos on certain products may be quite questionable, given their low nutritional value", explains Stéphanie Côté, Nutritionist at Extenso.

The abundance of "private" logos on packaging may promote the consumption of certain foods that are too fat, too sweet or too salty. "We sometimes try to dress up junk food to give it a healthy look, condemns Suzie Pellerin, Manager of Weight Coalition. Very often, a product simply needs to be 'less harmful' than the product of reference to receive a 'Healthy' logo. Chips, even though they contain less salt than other types of chips, will never be 'a smart snack', as currently claimed", adds Ms. Pellerin.

Changing eating habits is one of the factors contributing to the obesity epidemic. "To adequately choose a product, do not rely on the front side of the box, but rather on the back, advises François Décary-Gilardeau, Agri-Food Analyst at Option consommateurs. The table of nutritional values remains the best way to get adequate information about a product. Instead of making choices easier for consumers, the logos are confusing them. Regulations would allow the introduction of logos consumers could trust."

About the Quebec Coalition on Weight-Related Problems
Created in 2006 and sponsored by the Association pour la santé publique du Québec since 2008, the Quebec Coalition on Weight-Related Problems is working toward the adoption of specific public policies with regard to weight related issues. It acts within three strategic areas (agri-food industry, sociocultural and built environment) to foster the development of environments that help in making healthy choices and preventing weight related issues. For more details: www.cqpp.qc.ca.

About Extenso
Created in 2001, this non-profit organization is an entity of the University of Montreal’s Referral Centre in human nutrition, NUTRIUM. Extenso’s mission is to raise awareness among the population for an improved nutritional health, through an objective interpretation and efficient dissemination of current scientific knowledge related to nutrition. It reaches this goal partly through its regular collaboration with the media and thanks to its Web portal www.extenso.org.

About Option consommateurs
Created in 1983, Option consommateurs is a non-profit association committed to the protection and promotion of the rights of consumers. It is involved in about thirty class actions and is very sensitive to issues related to energy, the agri-food industry, financial services and business practices.

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Source: Amélie Desrosiers
Communications Officer, Quebec Coalition on Weight-Related Problems
Phone: 514 598-8058 extension 233
Cell.: 514 475-7431
adesrosiers@cqpp.qc.ca