I was impressed with the ONQI approach to food labels. Test them all. Don't accept money for the use of the rating. Although I began to feel sorry for the person trying to defend the Health Check issuance and use, I think she should have been terribly embarrassed about its obvious faults. I have been reading labels and this show further motivates me to do so and not rely on the Health Check logo. Posted by: Ward Carson | Jan 23, 08 07:25 PM

I was shocked to hear and see what products receive a heart check! I think of my brothers who are trying to eat healthy because of high cholesterol. Picking these products of the shelves thinking they are feeding themselves and their families a heart healthy meal. I am more than shocked, I am outraged that the Heart and Stroke foundation actually approved of this and stands by their choices. The spokeswoman actually tried to justify their choices because of their criteria. (Criteria that are standardized by them)! What scares me the most is the fact that they are trying to achieve this rating for all products across Canada!!! I will certainly be trying to stop this... I will inform all all people that will listen and make my voice heard to those who make such decisions. Posted by: Ms. Wanda Cassell | Jan 23, 08 08:03 PM

Heaven help Canadian health if Health Canada goes with the Heart Check. The Overall Nutritional Quality Index (ONQI)is the intelligent choice. I'd pay extra for one number out of 100, rather than studying and trying to compare nutritional facts labels on frozen foods. Posted by: Jan Cadieux B.SC. | Jan 23, 08 11:08 PM

A very interesting show. Good to see Marketplace expose a scam! This is an area where the government should step in and immediately halt the Heart Check program. What is needed is a comprehensive evaluation program that clearly differentiated between various foods -- like the ONQI system. Posted by: Del Meidinger | Jan 23, 08 11:16 PM

All I can say to sum up this shocking story is, there is something seriously wrong with BUYING a HEALTH CHECK logo from the Heart & Stroke Foundation to sell food to people who are obviously trying to make healthy choices. Posted by: Euan Mowat | Jan 24, 08 08:08 AM

I was shocked to discover that corporate funding was the only rationale behind what products sport the Health check symbol. It is a shame really, because The Heart and Stroke Foundation have zero credibility now, and zero respect. That they rented out their good name to corporate interests to fool Canadian families into believing there was a health benefit to buying what is essentially junk food is the worst kind of betrayal. They are not fit to replace Health Canada's food guide as the authority on nutrition. They unfortunately have become a front for industry interests and their actions will undermine the health of Canadians, the exact opposite of what they are supposed to stand for. Posted by: Donna | Jan 24, 08 09:59 AM

The show on the Health Check symbol is one of the best examples of real journalism I've seen in a long time. It was news we can use. Thank you. Posted by: Joanne Helmer | Jan 24, 08 10:50 AM

So I will no longer trust the RED heart $ stroke health check. But what about the GREEN one which says "Smart selections made easy" which I found on my oatmeal? Then there is the Pepsico check, which I don't look at because it is my belief that Pepsico makes Pepsi so that can't be healthy. I would like the ONQI system. But with an answer to a question: above what # should a person eat? 60-70-80? Posted by: SC | Jan 24, 08 12:10 PM

The food labels carrying the endorsement of the Heart and Stroke foundation creates, in my opinion, a false sense of security and now knowing that the foundation sells their endorsements makes them no better than a prostitute! I have my own, recent health issues and have discovered that I must really pay attention to what's on the label and even then approach with some skepticism. For example, I was curious about a Macaroni and Cheese product with a supermarket 'Health Check' rating and discovered it had more sodium than the ole, tried and true Kraft version! I, too, will be going out of my way to make family and friends aware of these anomalies. Thank you again and carry a 'sharp and pointed stick!' Posted by: Ed Dayholos | Jan 24, 08 12:34 PM

This program has turned me right off of the Heart and Stroke Foundation, I will not canvass for them this Feb. I would like to see a program done on more foods we can harvest locally and not be so refined. Posted by: Pam VanOsch | Jan 24, 08 09:35 PM

I was very impressed that Market Place did such a good job on this so called "Health Check" program. For Sally Brown to try and justify the Heart and Stroke Foundation's stand on their program's quality and good research, well, I think was an insult to all of those who care about what they put into their body. Can you imagine if they got the go ahead from Health Canada to be in charge of Healthy Labelling? Posted by: Victor Norris | Jan 24, 08 10:39 PM

Although it made some good points and raised some valid questions, it seemed to me the show was fixated on dragging down Heart & Stroke. In many ways it had the wrong target in its sights. Why should it be so difficult for people to make healthy choices in that cathedral of 'food choice', the modern supermarket? Why are the aisles stuffed with products that attract such low ratings? There used to be a simple guide - shop around the edge of the supermarket [ ie. fresh fruit & veg; dairy; meats & fish; bread]. Though supermarkets may have altered their layouts, this sentiment may serve better than mathematical exercises that reduce food choice to numbers and check marks. Posted by: Paul Fieldhouse | Jan 25, 08 09:44 AM

I think your report was great and I hope someone at Health Canada was watching. We need something like the ONQI system to rate ALL foods so consumers aren't fooled by "0 trans fat" or the "Heart Check" label. The Heart & Stroke Foundation should be more than embarrassed. Posted by: Christine Christian | Jan 25, 08 09:50 AM

Wendy...you are just the best at getting down to the heart of a problem. I am so impressed with your persistence and intelligent questions. I feel that food suppliers just want profit and consumers generally want the easy way out so it's been a nice relationship. Except the suppliers are the only winners. Consumers are getting and staying sick often because of poor diet. I've been a label reader for many years and can't be fooled by all the slick packaging. Well done; I hope this show helps folks make healthier food choices. Posted by: Roberta Hutchison | Jan 25, 08 03:24 PM

I'll be avoiding foods with the HealthCheck(TM) symbol from now on. It's wrong of this organization to rate only the foods that choose to participate in the program (paid or not). I hope the Heart & Stroke Foundation's program is dismantled, or re-formulated from scratch, with new principles and social responsibility in mind, and where ALL grocery products are rated, not just those who use the mark as a marketing tool. Posted by: PT Barnum | Jan 27, 08 01:10 PM

I used to believe in the tooth fairy as well. Posted by: Rick Adam | Jan 27, 08 09:41 PM

As a holistic nutritionist, I have come to realize that since man began to process large quantities of food to sell, we consumers have been sold a false bill of goods. If anyone is really interested in healthy eating the commonsense rules of fresh, natural, local, seasonal, whole foods combined with variety on a rotational basis and eaten in moderation is as sound as any science. Label-reading tinged with paranoia is a healthy practice, too, when dealing with ANYTHING that has been processed or has arrived from "out of town". In this day and age, I believe anyone who relies on government bodies to watch out for the average citizen (YOU) in matters of serious consequence, i.e. monitoring the food industry or drug companies, and relinquishes personal responsibility is naive and doomed to disappointment somewhere down the line. Our government has such a bad record of forming questionable partnerships with unreliable, untrustworthy businesses. Posted by: Robin Comolli | Jan 28, 08 08:55 PM

Robin hit the nail right on the head. Everyone's diet should consist of natural, whole and preferably raw foods. It's the only truly healthy way to eat and it IS very sound science. You can't rely on anyone but yourself to make yours and your family's food choices. Processed foods have always been and will always be poison for the human body. Ask any food company executive if the chemical preservatives and additives his/her company adds to a box of food is safe and they will swear up and down that it is very safe. Then ask them to to eat a teaspoon full of that same preservative and see what kind of reaction you get. My guess is that he/she will turn and run like a scared rabbit because eating it would almost surely mean instant death and they know it. Yet it ends up in almost every processed food on the grocery store shelves. When the body consumes even tiny doses of these un-natural poisons it does not know how to process them so it automatically stores them in fat cells. Over time, the build up of these poisons can create untold number of physical and mental problems, including many cancers and chronic 'diseases' that were basically unheard of a generation ago. Any biology scientist can attest to this science, unless of course they work for a food company. Posted by: Fred Minotti | Jan 29, 08 02:57 PM

SO disgusting. I've shared this info with many people. This is one program that would benefit many if it could be rerun. When I think of all the products I've bought with the "check" because I trusted that they had been properly rated!! I guess even our different health foundations are more interested in scams than us. Nice. Posted by: Lorraine Guenet | Feb 23, 08 10:34 PM

SC: "But what about the GREEN one which says "Smart selections made easy" which I found on my oatmeal?" "Smart Selections" is an invention of Pepsico and is only found on Pepsi products. Given that their diet soft drinks have it, and Baked Cheetos has it, how smart could it be? Posted by: Jason Wood | Mar 2, 08 10:25 AM

Great job Wendy! I think it was about time to reveal what kind of food (junk) we have on shelfs in our grocery stores across Canada... Posted by: Brian | Mar 17, 08 07:49 PM

Heart and Stroke Foundation have lost all their credibility. Next you'll see it on Big Mac and fries. Great job Marketplace. Posted by: Perplexed | Mar 28, 08 09:32 AM

I am very frustrated with our whole system. Our family tries really hard to eat good foods. We trust what we read, and then find out that again it is false. People trust the Heart and Stroke to protect us. Not to just help the corporate food companies to send us more false advertising. If Heart and Stroke are in need of money then sells us the right information, not lies. In the interview they said they were a cost recovery program, not profit from the giant food companies! Think again, they are puppets paid off to help the food companies sell more high priced junk. Posted by: Debbie | Mar 28, 08 12:37 PM

Very good show Wendy. I was very shocked to learn what the health check really symbolizes. Over the last couple of years I have been trying to change my eating habits and while I check the labels on most items I relied a lot on the symbol for my choices. Seems like it's the perfect relationship, without heart and stroke ailments what purpose would there be for the foundation. As long as people are getting sick from these foods, they will "have a purpose" and continue to receive funding and the companies producing the products continue to prosper at our expense. Posted by: Raymond Johnson | Apr 1, 08 03:26 PM

The BEST way to send a message to The Heart and Stroke Foundation is the next time they come looking for a donation, tell them they can get it from the sales of their Heart Smart logo. I know that's what I will be doing. Hit 'em where it really hurts!! In the pocketbook! If they see donations beginning to dry up, accompanied with canvassers feedback about "no donations because of the CBC story on Marketplace," they will dump their Heart Smart association quicker than they can say "there's HOW much sodium in that hot potato?" Posted by: Dave Smith | Apr 22, 08 03:45 PM