Battle continues against sugar use

Heart & Stroke congratulates Aden Bowman Collegiate on restricting access to sugary drinks in its classrooms, and considering other policies to improve its school’s food environment. This is a bold move, but since food and beverage companies spend millions targeting young people with unhealthy products we need to be bold.

Canadians are consuming too much sugar, and the greatest source is sugary drinks, including pop, fruit juice, energy drinks, sweetened coffees, teas and waters — products with little or no nutritional value. Sugar is linked to heart disease, stroke, obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, cancer and cavities.

Further education is important, but we need comprehensive strategies to create healthier food environments, to better protect children and youth, and support families. Such strategies should extend to the whole school environment, including school neighbourhoods.

Governments, schools, health organizations and others all have a role to play. By recently adding six per cent PST to snack foods and some sugary drinks, the provincial government is contributing to healthier environments.

In addition to helping reduce consumption, Aden Bowman’s policies and the government’s PST increases reinforce the message that sugary drinks are harmful.

Heart & Stroke has been advocating for the federal government to impose a levy on sugary drinks with revenue put toward healthy living initiatives, as well as legislation to restrict commercial food and beverage marketing to children and youth 16 and under.

To learn more, visit heartandstroke.ca/heartreport. Allison Kesler, CEO, Heart & Stroke, Saskatchewan