Experts say that nine in 10 children in the U.S. are consuming too much salt, increasing their risk of suffering from health issues such as high blood pressure and heart diseases later on in life. A report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that over 40 per cent of the salt that children consume comes from food that is generally popular with kids, such as pizza, sandwiches, cheese, chicken nuggets and pasta.

Kids between the ages of 6 to 18 consume approximately 3,300 milligrams of sodium per day, which is 2,300 milligrams higher than the recommended amount by the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

“Too many children are consuming way too much sodium, and the result will be risks of high blood pressure and heart disease in the future,” CDC director Tom Frieden told CTV News. “Most sodium is from processed and restaurant food, not the salt shaker. Reducing sodium intake will help our children avoid tragic and expensive health problems.”

Top Chef Canada winner Dale MacKay’s recipes and cooking tips will be featured as recipes cards in Co-op food stores across Western Canada. The recipes will also be featured on Coopfood.ca where visitors can get food tips from MacKay in the form of a video.

“It’s been decades since Co-op published its original recipe book, which became a staple in many western households,” Ron Welke, Associate Vice-President of Food, Federated Co-operatives Limited, told Newswire. “We are bringing a modern twist to today’s homes thanks to this special partnership with a home-grown and talented chef. Like Co-op, he values quality food and is committed to being local.”

MacKay will also be involved in developing Co-op Gold private label products. MacKay has previously worked at famous chef Gordon Ramsay’s Claridge restaurant, and has went on to open his own restaurant called Ayden Kitchen & Bar, which received high praise by the Huffington Post.

Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) is offering an expansion of their loyalty program PC Plus to No Frills stores in Western Canada. The digital loyalty program will offer personalized recommendations to customers every week, which will help them save time and money. The PC Plus program is customized for each customer’s needs and wants.

“More than six million Canadians are already engaging with the PC Plus program, but bringing the program to a discount store like No Frills is special,” Lowblaws Senior Vice President of Marketing Uwe Stueckmann told Newswire. “This rewards program is custom made for customers who want value on the items they already buy. Personalization is the unique driver of the PC Plus program.”

Shoppers can get a free PC Plus card in No Frills, Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstore, Extra Foods, and Your Independent Grocer stores in Western Canada in order to register, and earn points for purchases. The program is also available as an app for smart phones.

A recent survey by Ipsos Reid for Nestlé Waters Canada shows that mothers drink three to four soft drinks per week, with 39 per cent not intending on reducing that amount any time soon. There’s approximately 10 teaspoons of sugar per an average soft drink container. A 355 ml glass of orange juice contains over eight spoons of sugar. Excessive sugar consumption may lead to several health issues such as obesity, diabetes and dental cavities.

World Health Organization suggests that daily sigar consumption for adults be limited to six teaspoons, compared to the 26 teaspoons per day that an average adult consumers, according to Statistics Canada.

A preliminary study Israeli researchers published in the journal Nature indicated that artificial sweeteners may lead to diabetes. The study, which was done using mice, included some human experiments, but experts said more study is needed to reach a conclusion. Industry groups thought the research was limited, especially considering the past studies about sweeteners being safe and useful for weight loss.

The research suggested that sweeteners may change the composition of beneficial bacteria in the gut, affecting how the body handles the consumption of sugar, and thus potentially increasing the risk of diabetes. Researchers tested out three sweeteners; saccharin, sucralose, and aspartame on 20 mice. The mice were given a dose of sugar 11 weeks later and had their blood sugar levels examined. Another preliminary test had seven healthy volunteers use saccharin for a week. The results suggested that some people may be affected by artificial sweeteners, but there’s no certainty that artificial sweeteners are harmful to consumers.

Saje Natural Wellness, a Vancouver-based natural wellness chain, will open eight new locations across Canada by the end of 2014, including its first in Ontario, with plans to grow its current 14 stores to 50 by 2018.

Saje currently operates stores in Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, Red Deer and Kelowna. By the end of 2014, it also plans to open two stores in Toronto, and one in each Mississauga, Vaughan, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary and West Vancouver. The company is

The store was founded in 1991 and sells hundreds of natural wellness products, accessories and gift ideas. Products sold at Saje are 100 per cent natural and are made with plant-derived essential oils and base ingredients.

The store was recently ranked as one of Canada’s fastest-growing companies by PROFIT Magazine after experiencing a five-year revenue growth of 267 per cent, and is considered to be the top retailer in the natural wellness category in top-tier Canadian shopping centres.

Shelagh Stoneham has been named Shoppers Drug Mart’s new senior vice president, marketing, effective Sept. 29.

Prior to joining Shoppers Drug Mart, Stoneham worked at Rogers Communications as its senior vice president, general manager, brands and marketing communications, and has also had senior positions at BBDO Canada, Veredex Logistics Inc. and Tricon Global Restaurants.

According to federal health experts, there is not much evidence proving testosterone-boosting drugs are effective for treating symptoms of aging in men, and studies are needed to back up the current usage in millions of American men.

Advisors from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are recommending an amendment to testosterone drug labels clarifying the fact that these drugs have not been proven to reverse common complaints of aging men, such as low libido, fatigue and muscle loss. However, whether or not labels are changed, the real difficulty will lie in changing the way physicians prescribe these products.

Whole Foods Market, the leading supermarket that features natural and organic foods, is opening a new 45,000 square-foot North York location on Sept. 23. The store, situated at 4771 Yonge Street (at Sheppard Avenue East), is the company’s fifth Toronto location.

The new North York store has been designed to resemble several smaller boutiques gathered in one space, and will feature several food choices such as a restaurant and grill, 5-Step Rated Meat, seafood from sustainable sources, plus a stir-fry station, in-house sushi bar, homemade gelato bar, salad and hot bars and Panini and pizza stations.

It will also carry traditional supermarket fare, such as a wide range of seasonal, organic and local produce, natural and organic cheeses, fresh fish and seafood, an in-house butcher, plus a wide range of vegan and vegetarian choices, natural body care and cosmetics, nutritional supplements and vitamins, fresh-cut flowers and plants, grocery staples, bulk foods, global foods, fresh-baked pastries and a catering service.

In celebration of the opening, the store will have its traditional bread-breaking at 8:45 a.m., as well as food samplings, giveaways, music and more, according to a press release on the company’s website.

Advantage Health Matters is recalling Organic Traditions brand Sprouted Chia & Flax Seed Powder in 227g and 454g sizes due to a possible Salmonella contamination. There have been no illnesses yet reported due to the consumption of these products.

If these products are found, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency requests that they are thrown out or returned to the store they were purchased at.

Salmonella contamination can cause fever, headache, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps and diarrhea, and young children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems are especially susceptible.