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Personalized dietary advice based on a person’s genetic makeup improves eating habits compared to current “one-size-fits-all” dietary recommendations, says a University of Toronto researcher. “We conducted the first randomized, controlled trial to determine the impact of disclosing DNA-based dietary advice on eating habits,” said Ahmed El-Sohemy, an associate professor in nutritional sciences and Canada Research Chair in Nutrigenomics. “We found …

SASKATCHEWAN’S DEPUTY MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE TALKS LENTILS, INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS AND THE MAGIC OF RESEARCH Text by Hermione Wilson There’s more to Saskatchewan than bread.“We’re sometimes known for our branded products,” says Alanna Koch, Saskatchewan’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, “but the other thing we’re known for is ingredients, high quality ingredients.” Companies like InfraReady Products market Saskatchewan cereal grains, pulses and …

Two of Ontario’s largest honey producers, Sun Parlor Honey Ltd. and Munro Honey, have filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all Canadian beekeepers to recover damages suffered by beekeepers due to the widespread use of neonicotinoid pesticides. If successful, beekeepers who join the lawsuit could recover losses and damages from as far back as 2006. The Statement of …

Real Canadian Superstore locations in western Canada are making it easier for consumers to make nutritious food choices when shopping for groceries by launching the Guiding Stars program in British Columbia and Alberta. Guiding Stars is an objective, nutrition navigation program, providing at-a-glance nutritional ratings for foods found throughout the store. The program is designed to complement existing on-the-package nutritional …

The University of British Columbia’s Sea Around Us project has received $2.6 million (U.S.) from The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation to provide African and Asian countries with more accurate and comprehensive fisheries data to help them better analyze and support their ocean resources and local economies. “This generous support will help UBC fisheries researchers work with countries to better …

Sobeys is trying to tackle poor food knowledge in Canada with its inaugural $500,000 donation to Free the Children to co-develop Home Cook Heroes, a National food skills program. It’s the next step in Sobeys’ better food journey that kicked off last fall with a partnership with Jamie Oliver. Better Food Fund supports access to and the advancement of better …

The federal government announced new labelling requirements for mechanically tenderized beef (MTB) to help consumers know when they are buying MTB products and how to cook them. All MTB products sold in Canada must be clearly labelled as “mechanically tenderized,” and include instructions for safe cooking. The new labels will emphasize the importance of cooking MTB to a minimum internal …

Susan Niczowski has taken Summer Fresh Salads a long way in two decades. In 1991, Niczowski left her job and started the company with her mother in her kitchen. “I was very fortunate she supported me both financially and mentally and then we started chopping away,” she says. Back then, hummus wasn’t exactly filling grocery store shelves. “I had to …

Natasha Vandenhurk, CEO of Three Farmers, is on a mission to educate Canadians about camelina, an obscure edible oil from Europe Text by Nicolas Heffernan “It’s definitely been an uphill battle,” says Vandenhurk. “Oils are a very hard category for people to understand as it is. There are so many different facets to it, like smoke points and flavours and …

A groundbreaking new study published recently in Obesity, the journal of The Obesity Society, says drinking diet beverages helps people lose weight. “This study clearly demonstrates that diet beverages can in fact help people lose weight, directly countering myths in recent years that suggest the opposite effect – weight gain,” said James O. Hill, Ph.D., executive director of the University …