Based on the results of this year’s Product of the Year competition, Canadians are looking for healthier, higher-quality and more convenient food and beverage options. Canada’s Product of the Year awards surveyed more than 5900 Canadians from across the country for their opinions on consumer products launched in the past 18 months. Products, both retail and those available online, were evaluated on innovative design, function or packaging in 17 categories. This year’s food and beverage winners were: Asana Yogurt, Black Diamond Funcheez Marbelicious, Campbell’s Créations Soups, Fontaine Santé Humm! Hummus Cocktail, Molson Canadian 67, Maple Leaf Natural Selections Deli Meats, Riceworks Gourmet Brown Rice Crisps, High Liner Signature Southern Style Cod, and the Singleton of Glendullan Scotch. Winners are entitled to use Product of the Year branding and logo on packaging, advertising and point-of-sale materials. “Recognizing a seal of approval that has the endorsement of thousands of other Canadians is a shortcut that helps shoppers move on to more important decisions,” notes Sandie Orlando, executive program director for Product of the Year. “Consumers told us they want products that make it easier to live better without compromising on quality.”

Metametrix Clinical Laboratory has announced the availability of two new toxicity profiles to help determine exposure to harmful chemicals: Bisphenol A (BPA) and Organophosphates. BPA is widely used in the production of clear, shatter-proof plastics and is also present in liners of canned foods and beverages. The BPA Profile also measures triclosan, an anti-microbial agent used in personal products such as hand soap and toothpaste, as well as 4-nonylphenol, a surfactant with industrial uses. These chemicals are shown to be endocrine disruptors and possible contributors to disorders such as obesity, neurological development delays in infants, thyroid disruption, developmental issues of sexual organs in infants, and sexual dysfunction in adults. Organophosphate pesticides are nerve agents used in agricultural crops, orchards, residential lawns, and food storage centers that can be hazardous to the neurological development of children and fetuses. Other health effects include chronic fatigue, asthma, immune system disorders, impaired memory, disorientation, depression, irritability, and may increase risk of cancer. These new additions to the Toxic Effects product line give practitioners additional resources to determine if toxicity is an underlying cause of disease in their patients.

Nordic Naturals has received three 2011 Vity Awards for products and promotions from Vitamin Retailer Magazine, honoring the natural supplement industry’s best-selling products based on a nationwide survey of health food stores. The three awards included: Best EFA Supplement – Omega 3 (Specialty and Herbal Supplement Category); Tie for Best Children’s Health Supplement – NordicTM Berries (Specialty and Herbal Supplement Category); and Best Sales and Specials – Line Drives (Supplier Merchandising Support Category).

On June 22, 2011, the Ontario government announced their comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy, titled Open Minds, Healthy Minds. Starting this year, the government will invest a total $257 million dollars over three years in the province’s mental health system to help children and youth access support services. The program will focus on early intervention and support to protect our children from the many associated costs of mental illness and addictions and help steer them on the road to safe, healthy, and happy futures. The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care says their goals are to: provide children, youth and families with fast access to high quality services; identify and intervene in child and youth mental health and addictions issues early; and close critical service gaps for vulnerable children and youth, children and youth at key transition points, and those in remote communities. The goal is to give more children, youth, adults and their families the services they need, more quickly, and more effectively to prevent and reduce the personal, social and economic costs of mental health and addictions problems

Trust in claims made by manufacturers of vitamins, herbal supplements, and nonprescription drugs have dropped between 2005 and 2010, according to a recent Ipsos Reid study commissioned by Health Canada. Compared to a baseline survey performed in 2005, the new information shows a 10% drop in the confidence of consumers that natural products are safe and a 3% increase in the number of consumers who say that these products’ health claims are unproven. “There is a significant proportion of Canadians who seriously question the safety and quality of natural health products,” according to the report. “The strongest benefits associated with natural health products continue to be that [they] can be used to maintain and promote health and that they can be used to treat illness. However, these positive perceptions of natural health products have declined significantly,” the survey revealed. Overall, findings indicate that 42% of Canadians are questioning the quality of natural products. Supporters of natural products are also declining with 71% of consumers agreeing that natural products can be used to maintain and promote health compared to 77% in 2005. Similar declines were reported in the numbers of consumers who believed that natural products can be used to treat illness.

A United States federal advisory panel is recommending that pregnant women get vaccinated against whooping cough. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices voted to recommend the shot for pregnant women who previously were not vaccinated. The vaccine, which does not use live bacteria, would be given in the third trimester or late second trimester. Children get whooping cough vaccine in a series of shots beginning at two months. Most infant deaths and hospitalizations now occur in the first two months of life and some research has found that vaccinating a pregnant woman will allow her to pass some immunity to her child.

The Environmental Pollutants Profile assesses phthalate, paraben, and volatile organic compound exposure through measurement of their urine metabolites. This is the first pollutants profile offered in Canada, and uses US BioTek’s proprietary technology. The first morning mid-stream urine is collected in a cup and the strip ‘dipped’. The urine strip is then placed in a desiccant bag, which keeps the analytes stable until analysis. The environmental pollutants profile was launched in conjunction with the CAND conference on Environmental Medicine, held in Calgary in June 2011.

Ocean Nutrition Canada Limited (ONC), based out of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, is pleased to announce the launch of Irish Pride Bakeries’ first Omega-3 bakery product. Irish Pride Vita Kids Bread is fortified with Omega-3 EPA/DHA and is made specifically with kid’s nutrition in mind. Every 100 grams of Vita Kids Bread provides 40 mg Omega-3 EPA/ DHA, is a source of folic acid, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, is preservative-free and has 25% reduced salt. Children’s particular tastes often make it difficult for parents to serve them a complete, healthy and balanced diet, including fish and all other food groups. Products like Irish Pride Vita Kids Bread make it easier to fit important Omega-3s and necessary vitamins and minerals into children’s sometimes-picky food preferences. Jon Getzinger, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at ONC said, “We are excited to be a part of Irish Pride’s first ever Omega-3 fortified bread. EPA/ DHA is important at all life stages and it’s great to see a product like this that helps to address low Omega-3 intake levels in Irish children, while also providing necessary vitamins and minerals.”

The Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges (AANMC) is pleased to announce the first centralized application service for naturopathic medical (ND) school applicants. Scheduled to launch in September 2011, the Naturopathic Doctor Centralized Application Service (NDCAS) is well into development, and is currently in the process of enrolling participating schools into the service. At this time the following naturopathic schools plan to offer this online service to their fall 2011 applicants: Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine (Vancouver, British Columbia), Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine (Toronto, Ontario), Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine & Health Sciences (Phoenix, Arizona), University of Bridgeport College of Naturopathic Medicine (Bridgeport, Connecticut). NDCAS will serve to streamline and simplify the application process for prospective students applying to multiple ND schools, thereby reducing both time and cost. The applicant will simply submit a single application through NDCAS and select his or her schools of choice. Student applicants may then monitor the progress and status of their application online, and may acquire assistance through the helpline during business hours. The participating schools look forward to seeing an enthusiastic response from the fall 2011 ND school applicants.

Carlson Laboratories has announced their new partnership with the Natural Products Foundation to support research and education. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each specially labeled Carlson Super Omega-3 Gems supplement will benefit Foundation programs. The promotion began in June 2011 and was going to be continued while supplies lasted. The mission of the Natural Products Foundation is to promote and facilitate research and education related to natural products for the benefit of consumers and industry. Since Carlson also highly values the education of its consumers, the partnership was a natural decision. “We are so excited to be able to work with the Natural Products Foundation,” said Carilyn Anderson, President of Carlson Laboratories. “We have many common goals, including the wellness and education of our customers, so this was the perfect choice for us at this time.”