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CBC
01-07-2025
- Health
- CBC
Nutrition warning labels are hitting shelves near you — earlier than expected
Health Canada's new front-of-package nutrition warning labels are beginning to appear on store shelves six months ahead of the food industry's deadline. First announced in 2022, the black-and-white labels alert shoppers if a product is high in sugar, sodium and/or saturated fat — which the federal department says can lead to increased health risks like stroke, obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and some types of cancers. "I think these can be a really great starting point for people that are looking to use labels as nutrition information sources. But I do think that there are some limitations," said Brittany Brown, a dietitian based in Dartmouth, N.S. "... Right now, it's just going to be kind of functioning as a nutrition warning label, so it's going to give consumers the information when things are high in sodium, high in saturated fat [and] high in sugar, but it's not really going to tell them more details than that." Brown said flipping over the package will show details about percentages of daily value. She said the new label is automatically placed on foods that have 15 per cent or more of the daily value of sugar, saturated fat or sodium. "If something only has 14 per cent of the daily value of sodium, it's not going to trigger the nutrition warning so that's a bit of a missed opportunity." The intention behind the labels, according to Health Canada, is to help shoppers make "quick and informed choices" when buying food and support health professionals in educating people about food. Brown said other countries have been using front-of-label packaging for years. For example, some European countries use Nutri-Score, which grades foods between A and E. "A" foods would be high nutritional quality while "E" would be lower nutritional quality. Brown said while Health Canada's labels can be useful, they don't address certain complexities around food like cost. "We know that food security is a really big challenge that people are faced with. So even if I am looking at the grocery store and I see that something is high in sugar, but my dollar only goes so far, I'm still going to have to choose that food item potentially," Brown said. For example, Brown said things like frozen entrees could end up with these labels, but for some that may be all an individual or family can afford. "So I think that there is a bit of a risk with making us feel a little bit more judgy about some of the foods that we're eating, and we really need to be careful about not not putting that on to people." Liesel Carlsson, a professor of nutrition and dietetics at Acadia University in Wolfville, N.S., said she thinks shoppers may be surprised when the labels begin to appear on daily staples, like cereal, breads and some dairy products — though she could see that changing with time as companies adjust their recipes to no longer trigger the label. "These labels don't look good on packaging. So the real story here and part of the reason that industry was given a very long time in order to get their labels onto their packages is that many industry players will reformulate their products," Carlsson said. But what's most interesting, she said, is that these labels are likely to result in more products that are inexpensive "that are still in this highly processed category but are less damaging to health." In terms of the labels themselves, Carlsson said there is evidence to show that they're effective. "Even when consumers are not even seeking nutrition information, this type of front-of-pack label will catch people's eyes," she said, but added the look of Canada's labels are "a little bit underwhelming" — especially when compared to some South American countries, which use large black stop signs to communicate a similar message. Although the food industry has until Jan. 1, 2026, to put the front-of-package labels on the foods, some products already have it. The Nova Scotia-based grocery chain Sobeys, for example, has the label on many of its store-brand products, like Compliments and Big 8. These included items in the frozen food and snack aisle, like microwave popcorn, frozen chicken wings, burgers and pop. "We are committed to meeting the Health Canada front of pack labelling requirements and to empowering customers with clear information that supports the choices they make in our stores every day," Sobeys said in an email to CBC News. "We have made good progress to make the labelling changes to our Own Brands assortment ahead of the deadline by working proactively with our supplier partners." The labels are mandatory for prepacked foods, but Health Canada notes there are some exemptions. Certain dairy products such as plain milk, plain yogurt and cheese are exempt "because they are important sources of calcium that is needed to promote bone health and reduce the risk of osteoporosis." Health Canada said raw, single-ingredient ground meats and poultry are exempt "to avoid giving the impression they are nutritionally inferior to whole cuts that do not carry a nutrition label." Butter, sugar, salt and other products used for the same purpose are also exempt. Some products are also exempt for technical reasons, like foods in very small packages.
CBC
26-06-2025
- General
- CBC
I didn't know what it meant to be Canadian until I saw a photograph that opened my eyes
This First Person column is written by Clare Currie, who lives in Cape Breton, N.S., and is part of a Canada Day series exploring what Canada means to people across this country. For more information about First Person stories, see the FAQ. Growing up in Cape Breton, I had a narrow idea of what "Canada" meant. Simple images came to mind — maple syrup, Peter Mansbridge and beavers. Who knew that a child born nearly 8,000 kilometres away would shift my understanding of my own country? I'd been watching the television one evening in September 2015 when the newscast showed a picture of Alan Kurdi, a Syrian refugee child whose body had washed up on a beach near Greece, lying face down in the sand and water. It was the most painful and unnatural thing I'd ever seen. My heart went out to that little boy as a mother. Until that moment, I'd been busy raising two sons, working as a nurse and living a comfortable, privileged life. Seeing that picture was the first time I felt real discomfort or guilt for having so much. I had taken my Canadian freedoms for granted. I'd never considered what it would be like for someone to take my home, my family, my treasured belongings and my world as I knew it. I remember telling my husband we needed to do something, but we had no idea where to start. I didn't know anything about Syria, so I started reading everything I could about Syrian culture and food, Islam, and what refugees from Syria might need. Cape Breton Island was a predominantly white community for most of my childhood and even in my adult years, so I had little experience to draw on. I only knew that a local community group would be helping to sponsor a Syrian family that planned to settle in Cape Breton, and more would come later. My mother had helped to resettle Vietnamese refugees to this country in the late 1970s, and she told me that was "the happiest time" of her life. When I told her I wanted to be part of the Syrian refugee crisis work, but didn't know where to turn, she said, "Don't worry about where it will come from. It will come." One strong island Cape Breton Island, for all its beauty, is remote and underresourced. People here have a history of economic struggle. But we're fiercely proud of our strength, our culture of friendliness and our desire to help each other out. I started collecting goods in my home with help from friends and family. They brought every single thing you could imagine a family might need — from bed frames to clothing to pots and blankets. My niece changed her university's Secret Santa party to invite everyone to donate personal items for the family, while my son's company also collected goods and money. Our local furniture store stepped in with tables, chairs, dressers and more. We all couldn't believe how it was coming together; everyone was doing something. I'll never forget driving down to the school where the two older children in the refugee family would eventually attend and seeing a huge "welcome" sign written in Arabic hung above the entrance. Knowing that the family would have left their family keepsakes behind, our town's photographer offered to take new family photos for them. Somehow, once empty apartments were turned into welcoming, cosy homes, ready for the families to make a new beginning. The day after the first family from Syria arrived, my husband Joe and I went to their apartment door, and nervously knocked. I carried with me a Post-it note with the word "Marhaban," which meant welcome or hello written on it. A beautiful yet timid young woman opened the door, and I handed the Post-it to her. She smiled and welcomed us in. Neither of us understood each other's languages, but with the use of Google Translate and lots of gesturing, we quickly began to communicate. The family included the mother, father, two daughters in elementary school and a toddler son. The father's brother, who is paraplegic and in a wheelchair, came with them too. I kissed and hugged each one of the family members, immediately feeling that they were my own. Later in the visit, the mother and I sneaked away to a quiet corner. I typed her a message to share with her own mother in Syria: "Tell your mother I can be your mother here if you want". She sent that to her mother, who responded, "Yes, that's a good idea." We cried together for a while, holding hands and kissing each other's cheeks like old friends. My husband, being the practical and quiet guy he is, hooked up the TV and found an episode of Mr. Bean. We all piled onto the bed and the floor and watched it together, laughing our heads off. We were family. I was never so happy in my life. The word "mom" has taken on a new meaning for me. Now I'm called mom not just by my own children, but I also feel like a mom to the children of other families we've helped resettle in this new country. They call me Clare, but wish me every Mother's Day. There's plenty of love to go around. A few years later, the first family we'd helped resettle in our area left for Ontario for work. The friends I made in Cape Breton as part of the refugee sponsor group were also there on the day they left. We all cried our hearts out as we waved goodbye, wishing them good luck on the next step of their journey here. In 2025, being a Canadian woman to me means looking out for our neighbours, leaning into differences in culture, religious practices and learning how to help others in need. Because we are not different at all. We are all just looking for safety and peace. It's our Canadian values of equality, respect and freedom in action. It is the singular privilege of my life to walk alongside these families from Cape Breton and those who are newcomers to Canada. It's changed how I live, and I intend to do this work as long as I am able. I learn from them grace, service, faith and hope. They taught me how to be a Canadian.
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
JD Williams sent me the wrong jeans three times - then I got £70 bill for phoning them: SALLY SORTS IT
I recently decided to treat myself to a new pair of jeans from JD Williams. They cost £26 and arrived the next day. I ordered a size 12 but they delivered a size 18. I called the customer service number on the delivery note to arrange a return and reordered the size 12. The next day a second pair arrived but, again, in size 18. I called the number once more and went through the same process. The following day a third pair arrived. Another size 18! When I called again, I was advised not to reorder so they could check their stock. Then I received my mobile phone bill – it was unusually high due to out-of-plan call charges on my contract, so I checked with my network provider. They were billing me £70.72 for the calls I made to JD Williams. This is so unfair. N.S., Cheltenham. Readers' champion Sally Hamilton replies: Wallace & Gromit sprang to mind on reading your letter. 'It's the wrong trousers, Gromit! And they've gone wrong.' The fact they went wrong three times seemed, well, crackers. Perhaps JD Williams needs a Wallace-style inventor to sort out its stock management system. But more absurd still was the fact you were facing a phone bill nearly three times the price of your elusive pair of size 12 jeans for calling JD Williams to remedy the mix-up. Scam Watch Drivers should beware fake parking tickets impersonating a legitimate parking company or the council, CEL Solicitors warns. Fraudsters leave a ticket on the windscreen and victims are asked either to scan a QR code or visit a website to make a payment of around £60 to £70. But it is a fake portal, set up to get your personal and financial details. Check if the website on the ticket matches the official parking operator's address and look for spelling or format errors. If in doubt, look up the official website of the company or council and contact them. You told me the three calls totalled one hour and 40 seconds, which you described as 'ridiculous' for organising a simple return. I agree. Not surprisingly, you were stressed at the thought of a £70.72 bill – and still no jeans to show for it. I was happy to give the company a kick in the pants for you. I am pleased to say this did the trick and JD Williams' customer service swiftly contacted you to apologise for your poor experience, the hassle you faced and the costs you incurred. There had been a stock control systems issue, it admitted, which is now resolved. A spokesman said: 'We are replacing the item and dispatching this free of charge, and we have also reimbursed the cost of the calls.' When we caught up last week, you reported your size 12s had finally arrived – and fitted. All's well that ends well, that's what I say. However, your shock phone bill highlights the potential pitfalls when using a mobile to contact a retailer. This didn't cross your mind when you dialled the number printed in bold at the top of your delivery note. It began with '087', a prefix used by many companies to provide a single national phone number for customers, often for a sales or enquiry line. The service charge (the charge made by the company with the phone number) typically costs from zero to 13p a minute – 13p in JD Williams' case. But the actual amount billed depends on the access charge made by a customer's phone provider. Calls to 087 numbers often fall outside the free calls part of a package, as in your case, and are charged per minute or per call at anything from 3p to 93p a minute, depending on the provider. EE's access charge was one of the highest at 89p a minute when you made your calls (it is now 93p a minute). Your situation wasn't helped by JD Williams including two numbers on its delivery note. The 087 number you used is for orders and payments. There was also a '0345' number for enquiries. The first attracts a 13p-a-minute service charge. But 0345 numbers are charged like local calls and are included in many customers' mobile call plans – including yours. You told me the 087 number caught your eye immediately and that you didn't think to look for another. Companies using such prefixes often receive a portion of the revenue made from an access charge. You may not have flinched too much at your phone bill had your calls been dealt with speedily by JD Williams' customer service. But with more than an hour on the line in total, the price rocketed to a level that couldn't be ignored. JD Williams is keen to point out there are other options for contacting its customer service that should avoid nasty bills. In addition to its 0345 number, it offers an online chat service, email or direct messaging via X and Facebook. It is a pity that customers risk falling into an expensive trap simply because they want to speak to a human about their problem. I'm keen to hear from other readers who unwittingly have been caught out this way, so do drop me a line. Overpaid my gas bill and can't get a refund Just before the Easter weekend, I elected to pay off an outstanding £150 debt on my British Gas bill – but accidentally paid £1,500. I immediately rang to rectify the error, which had cleared out my current account. I was told it would be three to five days before I was paid back. After Easter, I still had not received the money, so rang again. Once more I was told it would be three to five days. This carried on weekly until a phone call on April 29, where I was told that the person I was speaking to could not authorise a repayment. Help! D.M., Oldham. Sally replies: British Gas had held on to your overpayment for more than a month by the time you contacted me and you were struggling financially. I asked the firm to put more energy into returning your money. It told me you had been given the wrong information about the timescale at the start. You should have been told ten working days for such repayments but also that the large sum involved required special approval. On my intervention your request was accelerated and a few days later £1,350 was repaid to your credit card – your £1,500 minus the £150 you had intended to pay. BG apologised and sent you a goodwill gesture of £75. Straight to the point I run my own business and in December my accountant told me I was due an £821.53 tax refund. In January I checked my HM Revenue and Customs account which said the refund had been made – but I haven't received it. HMRC told me it went to an account in my name but I don't have an account with the bank they claim the refund was made to. R.N., via email. Sally replies: HMRC apologises and has refunded you, along with £43.65 in late payment interest. It was previously refunded to an incorrect bank account. I own a flat which I let out until October last year and have now put up for sale. However, Octopus Energy has continued to send bills totalling £233.76 for an empty property. I paid the first three bills up to January as I know there's a standing charge. I have contacted Octopus many times and they haven't sorted it. But now a letter from a debt collection agency has been posted through the door. B.C., Kent. Sally replies: Octopus Energy apologises and has fixed your billing, and you are now £400 in credit. You were billed using estimate readings from previous usage, which was based on when the flat was let. In March I sold a vintage synthesiser for £500 on an online marketplace and paid a postal firm £39.70 for the delivery and insurance. It was damaged beyond repair when it arrived – the online marketplace has taken back the money from me to refund the buyer – but the delivery company won't pay out as I sent it in a re-used box. B.B., Nottingham. Sally replies: The delivery company remains firm. It says as there was a lack of internal packaging and the box was old, the damaged parcel did not meet its criteria for a payout. Write to Sally Hamilton at Sally Sorts It, Money Mail, 9 Derry Street, London, W8 5HY or email sally@ — include phone number, address and a note addressed to the offending organisation giving them permission to talk to Sally Hamilton. Please do not send original documents as we cannot take responsibility for them. No legal responsibility can be accepted by the Daily Mail for answers given.
CTV News
09-05-2025
- CTV News
Police still investigating N.S. man's shooting death
Police still investigating N.S. man's shooting death Police in Nova Scotia continue to seek answers from the public into the shooting death of a 36-year-old man that happened one year ago.
