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Tag Archives: nutrition communications

Bill C-59: What You Need to Know About Greenwashing

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Important amendments to the Competition Act became law on June 20, 2024. With the introduction of Bill C-59, the Canadian government is cracking down on greenwashing, making it essential for businesses and professionals to reassess environmental claims about products.

Key Changes with Bill C-59

Effective June 20, 2024, Bill C-59 brings significant amendments to the Competition Act, focusing on misleading environmental benefit claims. The onus is now on businesses to prove that their environmental claims, such as those related to sustainability, carbon reduction, and energy efficiency, are backed by adequate and proper testing.

What This Means for the Food Industry

  • Environmental Claims: If you’re promoting environmentally friendly practices like sustainable sourcing or waste reduction, you’ll need proper documentation and testing to substantiate your claims.
  • Legal Risks: Starting in 2025, private parties (including environmental activists) can directly challenge misleading environmental claims. This increases potential legal exposure and reputational risks for businesses making unverified claims.

Practical Steps

  • Review all marketing materials related to environmental benefits.
  • Ensure that any environmental claims align with internationally recognized methodologies and can withstand scrutiny.

Bill C-59 signals a major shift in how environmental claims are regulated. Food industry professionals should act now to avoid greenwashing pitfalls and ensure compliance with these new provisions.

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Acknowledgement:

  • AI systems (ChatGPT) was used for editing and grammar enhancement.

Written by: Lucia Weiler, BSc, RD, PHEc – Award-winning dietitian and Owner, n4nn

“Eat Less, Eat Better”…is it that simple? Rethinking our message about healthy eating and obesity

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Will we solve the obesity crisis by simply telling people to “eat less and eat better”? A one-day health professional forum was held in Toronto on April 28th to rethink our messages about food and obesity. The event featured key leaders in obesity research/treatment and health communications:

  • Dr. Ayra Sharma (Chair for Obesity Research and Management, University of Alberta)
  • Ted Kyle (Founder, ConscienHealth)
  • Sue Mah (President, Nutrition Solutions and Co-Founder, Nutrition for NON-Nutritionists)

Here’s what these experts were saying…

 

Dr. Ayra Sharma
Chair for Obesity Research and Management, University of Alberta

  • Obesity is a complex chronic disease.
  • Simplistic messages about obesity are misleading, can promote unhealthy weight obsession and promote bias and discrimination.
  • Prevention and intervention strategies should focus on improving health behaviours rather than on just changing body weight.

Ted Kyle
Founder, ConscienHealth

  • Use respectful, people-first language that is free of bias and stigma – e.g. “unhealthy weight” or “high BMI” instead of “fat” or “morbidly obese”.
  • “Obese” is a harmful label. “Obesity” is a disease.
  • Shift the conversation from “being obese” towards health.

 

Sue Mah
President, Nutrition Solutions and Co-Founder, Nutrition for NON-Nutritionists

  • “Eating better” means cooking, eating together and enjoying food.
  • Consumers are bombarded with food/nutrition messages that simply don’t “have the scientific muster to present as fact” (quoting Dr. Oz here!)
  • Health and nutrition communications needs to be creative to capture consumers’ attention.
  • From celebrities and chefs to dietitians and politicians, everyone has a role in being a champion for change.