Much has been said on this blog on the role of proper food labels in the continuing struggle against diet-related diseases, particularly in children. While this has certainly become a major issue in the U.S., particularly due to the very public campaigning of First Lady Michelle Obama, concerns about the health effects of poorly monitored food are seen in other countries as well, including Canada. An initiative announced earlier this year by Ontario officials aims to lower obesity rates in children, and can be seen as an indication of the way this topic might be broached in the public sphere in other constituencies.
The Healthy Kids Panel, a group assembled to address this issue in Ontario, created a study called “No Time to Wait: The Healthy Kids Strategy” and passed it on to be reviewed by the authorities last month. Among other things, this study expresses the plan to cut rates of obesity “by 20 percent in five years” and puts forth a three-point plan for improvement, including changes in the attitudes of parents, food companies and communities. They also mentioned the problems inherent in the current consumer landscape that make it difficult to make informed choices.
“Parents told us they want to shop ‘healthy,’ but they often find food labels confusing,” the panel said in their report. “When they eat out, they are often unaware of how many calories are in the meals they order. In fact, people generally underestimate the calorie content of take-out and restaurant foods.”
Food labels can help ease many of these sorts of fears by being easy-to-read and clearly marked. Companies that seek to help stay in line with regulations and prevent the possibility of furthering health complications through misunderstanding may seek the services of the Primera LX900 color label printer in production and marketing.
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