TORONTO - The Heart and Stroke Foundation has come under fire because of the sugar, sodium and fat content in certain foods endorsed by its Health Check program.
In a Canadian Medical Association Journal article published online Thursday, Dr. Yoni Freedhoff said he objects to certain items being adorned with the foundation's "Health Check" logo.
In particular, Freedhoff, medical director of the Ottawa-based Bariatric Medical Institute, suggests it doesn't make sense to give the seal of approval to foods that are high in sugar, like cookies and muffins, or that contain red meat or refined flours.
In an interview, he said the logo is meant to steer people towards healthy choices.
"But unfortunately, because of the criteria involved in what those choices are, it may in fact serve to do the opposite and steer people towards choices that evidence-based medicine would tell us in fact are not healthy choices," he told The Canadian Press from Ottawa.
Some changes are coming. The Health Check program recently revamped its criteria after months of study by dietitians to take into consideration last year's new Canada's Food Guide. Altogether, the logo is on more than 1,500 products in Canada.
The changes are related to the fat, trans fat, sugar, sodium and fibre criteria.
"There were about 100 products that were impacted by our review," Terry Dean, director of the Health Check program, said in an interview Thursday.
"And what we've been told is that each of the companies is going to work very hard to try and reformulate. But if they're not able to meet those new levels then we'll ask them to leave the program."
A statement on the foundation's website says companies have until Dec. 28, 2009.
All new products entering the program must meet the new criteria immediately, the statement says.
As for Freedhoff's concerns, Dean noted that the Health Check program is based on the Canada's Food Guide and Freedhoff has "been a very avid non-supporter of the food guide."
Canada's Food Guide is supported by the majority of nutrition experts and dietitians in the country, he said, and is supported by the Canadian Medical Association.
Dean said Freedhoff runs a diet clinic in Ottawa and his focus is "very much on diet."
"And ours is more of a comprehensive view that it's a public health model. It's not a sodium reduction problem, it's not a diet program, it's not a fat reduction program. Our program is based on the overall diet and general healthy eating recommendations."
