Latest news with #HealthCanada
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
The worst hamburgers for your health — and the best ones for your Canada Day BBQ to avoid high sodium and fat
BBQ season is here, and for many Canadians, the chance to soak up more summer by having dinner outside is a key part to making the most of these sweet, sunny days. However, most barbecue fare can be a minefield of sodium. A Health Canada report from 2017 states many Canadian kids and men consume the mineral to potentially health-affecting excess. That includes 72 per cent of children aged four to 13, and a whopping 90 per cent of men between ages 14 and 30. On the other hand, notably, less than half of women in the same age group aren't consuming excess sodium. A small amount of sodium is a necessary part of a balanced diet as the mineral regulates blood pressure, keeps fluids in balance and helps muscle and nerve functioning. But too much is a serious health concern: "The average daily sodium intake of Canadians is currently estimated at 2,760 mg, which is higher than the established goal of 2,300 mg per day," Health Canada shares in that same report, going a long way to explaining the prevalence of high blood pressure in the country. This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. The study adds roughly 25 per cent of Canadians over age 20 have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. But it also explains the actual number is likely much higher, given the condition presents no symptoms and develops slowly. If that's not enough to have you put down the salt shaker, how about this: Heart disease and stroke are, respectively, the second and third leading causes of death in Canada after cancer. Most of the excess sodium in the typical Canadian diet is found in salty snacks, condiments, canned soups, frozen entrees like pizza and microwaved meals — and, above all, bakery goods and processed meats. Burgers, sausages, canned meats and deli meats all fall under this last category. That means when it comes time to fire up the grill, those watching their sodium intake can't just reach for any old patty. Here, we're comparing the nutritional label on a variety of popular grocery store favourites. From veggie burgers and imitation meat patties, to your classic chicken and beef burgers, this is everything you need to know about the sodium content in popular pre-made hamburger products you may be eyeing this summer. Pre-formed beef burgers are a barbecue staple. However, these patties are typically full of sodium, with some packages noting a single patty could use up a whopping quarter of your recommended daily value (DV) intake. When it comes to the DV on nutrition labels, five per cent or less is a little, while 15 per cent and above is a lot. President's Choice Thick and Juicy Beef Burgers Sodium: 600 mg, 26% DV Fat: 33 g (includes 15 g saturated + 1.5 g trans), 44% DV No Name Beef Burgers Sodium: 440 mg, 19% DV Fat: 28 g (includes 13 g saturated + 2 g trans), 37% DV Compliments Frozen Traditional Beef Burgers Sodium: 390 mg, 17% DV Fat: 10 g saturated + 1 g trans, 55% DV Montana's Frozen Canadian Angus Beef Burgers Sodium: 570 mg, 25% DV Fat: 11 g saturated + 2 g trans, 65% DV Changing it up with chicken burgers keeps barbecued dinners interesting as summer's heat continues on. These patties also seem to score slightly lower on sodium and fat levels than their beef counterparts. Zabiha Halal Chicken Burgers Sodium: 480 mg, 21% DV Fat: 8 g (includes 2 g saturated), 11% DV Compliments Balance Chicken Burgers Sodium: 330 mg, 14% DV Fat: 1.5 g saturated, 8% DV Janes Breaded Chicken Burgers Sodium: 410 mg, 18% DV Fat: 1.5 g saturated, 8% DV Great Value Chicken Burgers Sodium: 300 mg, 13% DV Fat: 11 g (includes 15 g saturated + 0.1 g trans), 15% DV Need a break from the red meats or poultry? Fish burgers are a good alternative when you're thinking of firing up the barbecue. Stick to non-breaded versions to stay on the healthier side. Compliments Wild Pacific Salmon Burgers Sodium: 310 mg, 13% DV Fat: 0.3 saturated, 2% DV President's Choice The Ultimate Atlantic Salmon Burgers Sodium: 420 mg, 18% DV Fat: 10g (includes 1.5 g saturated), 13% DV High Liner Breaded Fish Burgers Sodium: 610 mg, 27% DV Fat: 13g (includes 1 g saturated), 17% DV Janes Beer Battered Fish Burgers Sodium: 410 mg, 18% Fat: 1.5 g saturated, 8% DV Gone are the days of vegetarians getting left out at the cookout: Brands like Impossible, Beyond Meat, Yves and Gardein offer a this-close facsimile of their beef brethren — including the sodium and fat, it seems. Beyond Meat Plant-Based Burgers Sodium: 260 mg, 11% DV Fat: 2 g saturated + 0 g trans, 10% DV *Editor's note: Beyond Meat has informed Yahoo Canada they have updated their nutrition information. However, grocery store websites may still showcase previous nutrition data. Impossible Plant-Based Burgers Sodium: 370 mg, 16% DV Fat: 8 g saturated, 40% DV Yves The Good Veggie Burgers Sodium: 310 mg, 14% Fat: 0.2 g saturated, 3% DV Gardein Suprême Plant-Based Burgers Sodium: 420 mg, 18% DV Fat: 9 saturated + 0.1 g trans, 44% DV Burger patties composed of vegetables, beans, grains and seasonings are an old-school vegetarian staple. Typically, these burgers are top-tier in healthiness regarding sodium and fat levels. Dr. Prager's California-Style Veggie Burgers Sodium: 250 mg, 10% DV Fat: 0 g saturated Big Mountain The Original Veggie Burgers Sodium: 135 mg, 6% DV Fat: 2 g saturated, 10% DV President's Choice Chickpea and Sweet Potato Veggie Burgers Sodium: 590 mg, 26% Fat: 9 g (including 1g saturated), 12% DV Wholly Veggie The Big Griller Veggie Burgers Sodium: 250 mg, 11% DV Fat: 0.5 g saturated, 5% DV Another potential sodium minefield standing between you and a barbecue meal that meets your dietary needs are burger buns. Some buns, it seems, might have as much salt as the patties they're clasped around. Some buns from the D'Italiano brand have 16 per cent of your daily sodium allotment per bun. That means a burger with one of these buns could have as high as half your daily intake, depending on the variety of patty inside — and that's before you've put cheese or ketchup on it. Wonderbread white buns, meanwhile, clock in at 10 per cent of your daily sodium needs — as do Compliments brand brioche buns. Villaggio's Toscana buns have 12 per cent of your daily sodium allowance, while Dempster's hamburger buns clock in at 10 per cent. Even though it tastes sweet, ketchup packs a sodium punch. At 50 grams — or about four tablespoon's worth — you're being delivered 18.5 per cent of your daily sodium recommendation. Mustard and relish aren't off the hook, either: According to the USDA, the average yellow mustard has 23.5 per cent of your daily sodium in a comparable amount. On the other hand, relish hovers around 16.5 per cent of your sodium needs for about four tablespoons. Adding cheese? One slice of Kraft Singles has 12 per cent of your sodium allowance, while Ziggy's brand cheddar slices offer seven per cent. It's possible that building the perfect burger could cost an entire day's worth of sodium intake if you're not careful. But simple swaps — like reaching for unprocessed cheese, going light on the condiments and checking the nutrition facts on the buns — can keep things in check, as will occasionally choosing patties made from chicken, fish and vegetables in place of beef. Get ready to light the grill!
Cision Canada
14 hours ago
- Health
- Cision Canada
Health Canada launches public consultation on proposed changes to increase oversight of precursor chemicals and drug equipment
OTTAWA, ON, June 27, 2025 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is taking action to keep communities safe on both sides of the border. This includes detecting and disrupting the illegal fentanyl trade. Today, the Minister of Health, Marjorie Michel, launched a 45-day public consultation on proposed changes to how Canada regulates precursor chemicals and devices such as pill presses and encapsulators that could be used in the illegal production of drugs. The consultation is open until August 12, 2025. The public consultation will allow impacted stakeholders, such as regulated industries that use precursors for legitimate uses, pharmacies and individual pharmacists, to provide feedback on the proposed changes. These changes would strengthen controls around precursor chemicals and drug equipment to support law and border enforcement as they take action to stop their illegal importation and distribution. Quotes "Our government is acting to protect Canadians against illegal synthetic drugs like fentanyl. By working with the industry and our partners, we are making our streets safer." The Honourable Marjorie Michel Minister of Health "Keeping communities safe from the harms of illegal drugs is a top priority. Together with our Strong Borders bill, these proposed changes will give law enforcement and border officers stronger tools to stop the illegal production and trafficking of dangerous substances like fentanyl. We are committed to working with our partners to disrupt organized crime, further secure our borders and protect Canadians." The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree Minister of Public Safety "Step by step we are increasing pressure on organized crime groups and sending a clear message: Canada will not tolerate illegal drugs in our communities and at our borders. We will use every tool at our disposal to support law and border enforcement as they tackle the production and distribution of illegal drugs." Kevin Brosseau Fentanyl Czar Quick Facts Under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), the Precursor Control Regulations (PCR) sets rules for the use of precursor chemicals. While some precursors have legitimate uses, they can also be used in the illegal production of controlled substances, like fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. In Canada, precursors are controlled under Schedule VI of the CDSA and are regulated under the PCR. To ensure that law and border enforcement have the tools they need to detect and address fentanyl and its precursors, the federal government is investing $78.7 million to expand Health Canada's laboratory and regulatory capabilities. Health Canada's Precursor Chemical Risk Management Unit provides better oversight into precursor chemicals and their distribution channels, and enhance monitoring and surveillance of illegal drug trends to enable timely law enforcement action. Health Canada is establishing a new Canadian Drug Analysis Centre that will allow for more specialized analysis of synthetic drug samples. The analysis will help determine how and where these substances were manufactured to support law enforcement and public safety partners to strategically target organized crime. Notice of Intent on this regulatory proposal to enhance oversight of precursor chemicals and drug equipment was open for public consultation from January 31 to March 3, 2025. 1S7Oa6kfqPnSMg%3D&rese SOURCE Health Canada (HC)
Cision Canada
16 hours ago
- Health
- Cision Canada
Public Advisory - Unauthorized blood glucose monitors sold online may pose serious health risks Français
Product: Unauthorized blood glucose monitors, also referred to as glucose-reading devices or non-invasive glucose monitors Issue: Health products - Unauthorized product; Medical devices - Inaccurate test or measurement results What to do: Do not use glucose monitors that have not been authorized by Health Canada. Consult a healthcare professional if you have used an unauthorized glucose monitor and have health concerns. Only use devices listed on Health Canada's Medical Device Active Licence Listing (MDALL). Issue Health Canada is warning people with diabetes and their caregivers that numerous unauthorized blood glucose monitors are being sold through social media and online stores. Unauthorized products have not been assessed for safety and effectiveness and may pose serious health risks to consumers because they may give false blood glucose readings or may not provide timely alerts, which could lead to errors in diabetes management. Errors may include: taking too little insulin, which can lead to high blood sugar (called hyperglycemia), taking too much insulin, which can lead to low blood sugar (called hypoglycemia), and failing to treat low or high blood sugar. These errors could lead to serious health consequences requiring medical treatment, such as hyperglycemic emergencies, severely low blood sugar, loss of consciousness, seizures, coma, and death. These unauthorized devices are being marketed using various descriptions, including glucose-reading devices, blood glucose monitoring systems, non-invasive glucose/health monitors, non-invasive blood glucose meters/monitors, and glucose and vital signs monitors. While some of these unauthorized devices claim to measure glucose levels non-invasively (without puncturing the skin or inserting a device into the body), consumers should be aware that at this time, Health Canada has not authorized the sale of any non-invasive blood glucose monitoring devices. In addition, some of the promotional material for these unauthorized products contain false endorsements from Health Canada using its corporate signature. Health Canada does not endorse health products and does not allow its corporate signature to appear on health or consumer product advertising. Consumers can search Health Canada's Medical Device Active Licence Listing (MDALL) to determine whether a blood glucose monitor has been authorized by the department. Health Canada will continue to take necessary action to stop the sale and advertising of these unauthorized products in Canada. What you should do Only use blood glucose monitors that have been authorized by Health Canada. If you suspect that you are using an unauthorized product, stop using it immediately and replace it with an authorized monitor. Talk to your health care provider about which blood glucose monitor is right for you. Only use devices listed on Health Canada's Medical Device Active Licence Listing (MDALL). Report any health product-related side effects or complaints to Health Canada.
Global News
19 hours ago
- Health
- Global News
Prince Edward Island's chief public health office confirms two new cases of measles
Prince Edward Island is reporting two cases of measles in unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people. The Island's public health office says the infected individuals had visited a number of places since June 21, potentially exposing other people to the highly infectious virus. As a result, the province has produced a list of locations considered potential exposure sites. The 10 locations include the Charlottetown Airport on June 25 and West Jet flights the same day from Kamloops, B.C., to Calgary, and from Calgary to Charlottetown. Other locations on the Island include service stations in Stanley Bridge and Scotchfort, a chapel in Charlottetown and a number of retail outlets in Charlottetown and Morell. As of June 14, Health Canada was reporting 3,381 cases of measles across Canada since the beginning of the year. Ontario was reporting 2,186 cases and Alberta had 961 cases. The two provinces accounted for 93 cent of all cases. Story continues below advertisement 2:05 Rising measles cases could lead to more problems down the road Measles spreads through the air and close contact, such as breathing, coughing or sneezing — and it can cause a serious illness that may require admission to a hospital. Get weekly health news Receive the latest medical news and health information delivered to you every Sunday. Sign up for weekly health newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Symptoms include fever, coughing, runny nose, red eyes and a blotchy, red rash that appears three to seven days after the fever starts. Vaccination against measles is close to 100 per cent effective in preventing the disease. Health Canada says measles was eliminated in the country in 1998, but recent outbreaks in Alberta have been the most severe in almost 40 years. Across the country, 46 per cent of infections have been reported among those between the ages of 5 and 17, followed by those between the ages of 18 and 54 at 27 per cent. Meanwhile, Ontario reported its first death related to a measles outbreak on June 5. Ontario officials confirmed that a premature baby died after being infected in the womb of their unvaccinated mother. Story continues below advertisement On Wednesday, British Columbia Premier David Eby said the spread of measles is the predictable outcome of the 'recklessness' of anti-vaccination politicians. He told a Vancouver news conference that the focus for provincial public health authorities must be making sure people who are not protected receive vaccinations. 'I will encourage all British Columbians to ensure that they are vaccinated,' Eby said. 'Measles is no joke. It kills kids. It's a preventable disease, and we don't want that to be the story of the summer for our province.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
Business Standard
20 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Biocon's biologics arm gets Health Canada approval for aflibercept biosimilar 'Yesafili'
Biocon said that its subsidiary Biocon Biologics has received a notice of compliance (NOC) for Yesafili (aflibercept), a biosimilar to Eylea (aflibercept) injection, in vial and prefilled syringe presentations, from Health Canada. This approval paves the way for the launch of YESAFILI in Canada, scheduled for 04 July 2025. YESAFILI is the first biosimilar to EYLEA to be approved by Health Canada. YESAFILI is a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor. It is prescribed for the treatment of several eye conditions. These include neovascular (wet) age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It also treats visual impairment caused by macular edema secondary to central retinal vein vein occlusion (CRVO). Visual impairment due to macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) is another indication. Furthermore, it is used for diabetic macular edema (DME). It also treats myopic choroidal neovascularization (myopic CNV). The approval is based on a comprehensive package of analytical, nonclinical, and clinical data, confirming that YESAFILI is highly similar with no clinically meaningful differences to EYLEA in terms of quality, safety, and efficacy. Shreehas Tambe, CEO & Managing Director, Biocon Biologics Ltd., said: The approval of YESAFILI by Health Canadathe first biosimilar to EYLEA in Canadais a proud moment for Biocon Biologics. We are excited that in July, Canada will be the first country where we will launch YESAFILI, making it our 10th biosimilar to be commercialized worldwide. Biocon is a global biopharma company dedicated to improving affordable access to therapies for chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. The companys consolidated net profit surged 154.2% to Rs 344.50 crore on a 12.8% jump in net sales to Rs 4,358.10 crore in Q4 FY25 over Q4 FY24. The scrip rose 0.96% to currently trade at Rs 353.90 on the BSE.
