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Nutrition information will protect every one

I have a confession to make. I have belonged to the Centre for Science in the Public Interest for 12 years. While I was writing a two-year renewal to their newsletter, Nutrition Action, recently, I noticed a letter to the editor by Tracey Sutherland in the Advocate disparaging the CSPI.

I have a confession to make. I have belonged to the Centre for Science in the Public Interest for 12 years. While I was writing a two-year renewal to their newsletter, Nutrition Action, recently, I noticed a letter to the editor by Tracey Sutherland in the Advocate disparaging the CSPI.

The CSPI was founded in 1971 as a non-profit consumer health group that advocates honest food labelling and safer and more nutritious foods. It receives no government or industry funding. Currently, one million people receive their newsletter (100,000 in Canada and 900,000 in the U.S.). Readership is estimated at three million an issue. CSPI has received numerous awards and recognition for its work. These include from the National Wellness Institute, Blue Cross, Blue Shield, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, among others. Most media have lauded CSPI as has Oprah Winfrey on her show.

CPSI was one of 25 groups represented in Health Canada’s Sodium Working Group (2007-2010), which unanimously recommended that restaurant menus prominently display calories and sodium. So far, neither the Canadian government nor the restaurant industry have acted on this recommendation. In 2010, after a 10-year campaign by CSPI, the U.S. Congress enacted mandatory calorie labelling at chain restaurants in the U.S.

More recently, through pressure from CSPI and the State of California, both Coke and Pepsi has agreed to reduce the amount of caramel dye in their products. This dye may cause cancer. It was either this or put warning labels on their products in California.

Restaurant patrons in Canada will not be told what to order off of a menu, but they need accurate information as to number of calories in an order, the amount of sodium, sugar, and fat to make intelligent choices about their diets. One must ask the questions: why has the incidence of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease risen so sharply? Who is going to pay for the heath-care costs associated with poor health? Who is responsible for a healthier Canadian population?

On a sweeter note, an extra-large Tim Hortons French Vanilla Cappuccino Supreme has 630 calories, 20 teaspoons of sugar , and 20 grams of saturated fat. Enjoy!

Ray Kowalski

Sylvan Lake