China is ordering Chinese filmmakers and television producers to limit the amount of smoking depicted on-screen in an effort to curb tobacco use.

Plot lines and scenes involving smoking should only be used when necessary for artistic purposes or character development, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said on its website Tuesday.

Under the new rules, minors under age 18 cannot be shown smoking or buying cigarettes, and characters may not smoke in public buildings or other places where smoking is banned.

China has been tightening up restrictions on smoking over the past decade, banning tobacco advertising and sponsorships of major sporting events.

That's part of a slow realization of the massive toll heavy tobacco use is taking on an aging, increasingly urbanized population. Tobacco use is linked to the deaths of at least 1 million people every year in China, where 300 million people (or nearly 30 per cent of adults) smoke.

Last August, a group of Canadian doctors called on federal and provincial governments to stop subsidizing movie productions that depict smoking in films aimed at children and teens.

Studies worldwide show smoking in movies is a powerful way to recruit young people to the addiction, said Neil Collishaw, research director of Physicians for a Smoke-Free Canada.

With files from The Associated Press

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Do you want Canadian film and television producers to limit depictions of smoking on-screen? Do you think it would discourage young people from smoking? Let us know.


(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)

By CBC News

A CBC investigation has found that reusable plastic food trays in some Vancouver-area shopping malls have as much bacteria on them as toilet seats have.

Swabs taken from trays in food courts at three malls were sent to University of British Columbia microbiologist Bob Hancock, who analyzed the samples. The malls involved were Pacific Centre in downtown Vancouver, Park Royal in West Vancouver and Metrotown in Burnaby

"We saw as many bacteria on some food trays as we saw on a toilet," said Hancock.

The Pacific Centre mall's general manager, Ultan Kampff, said cleaning staff wipe the trays after every use and disinfect them every night.

"Our service provider has very high standards that are in line with acute care facilities," Kampff said. "Having said that, there's always an opportunity to revisit our procedures and our processes to see if we can do it better."

Park Royal and Metrotown both offered statements in response to the CBC test results, saying they had rigorous cleaning methods.

Despite the presence of some serious pathogens, they are not a major concern for healthy people, Hancock said.

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CBCNews.ca readers engaged in a discussion about our society's concerns about cleanliness. Many commenters believe people have become too anxious about bacteria.
"How do you think we become immune to certain types of bacteria? It is by being exposed to them," wrote jkeating. "The kids growing up today will be sicker than the previous generation, all because of the fear mongering and people's need to have a sterile world."

Bobby65 agreed. "Certainly we don't want really harmful bugs hovering around everywhere but some exposure to bacteria and things is not going to kill anybody if they are living a decent healthy lifestyle."

However, bette102 was glad the issue of bacteria on food trays was brought up. She said she contacted the health department in Winnipeg after finding the food trays at malls greasy. "They told me that the system won't change, that it's OK to just wipe down the tray. I suggested soap and hot water but they thought it wasn't necessary. Do these people just spray their dirty dishes and wipe them with a rag and put them back in the cupboard?
I never use a tray now, I carry my food to the table. If any food hits the table I throw that away."

Do you think people have become too worried about bacteria? What kinds of public places are you most concerned about when it comes to cleanliness? Let us know in the comments below.

(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)

Suggestions for parents, teachers and caregivers to help children reduce their sedentary time. (Courtesy of CESP)

Canadian children and teens should spend no more than two hours a day sitting and watching TV or playing video games, new guidelines say.

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology followed up on January's physical activity guidelines on Tuesday, saying mounting evidence supports the need to limit sedentary behaviour as a health issue distinct from moving more.

Children and youth spend an average of 8.6 hours per day, or 62 per cent of their waking hours being sedentary, the group noted.

But in an ideal day, the majority of time would be spent engaging in light intensity activity like cooking, about 25 per cent of the day sitting, with the rest of the day spent pursing moderate-intensity activities like cycling and vigorous-intensity activities like playing hockey, according to the society.

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Do you lead by example to get your kids more active? What do you do with your kids to keep them moving? Let us know in the comments below.

(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)

By CBC News

Food manufacturers have 18 months to adhere to tighter rules dealing with the labelling of food allergens, Health Canada announced Monday.

The amended rules would target food allergens, gluten sources and sulphites, which will have to be explicitly identified on packaging.

Manufacturers will be required to list what type of allergens, gluten sources or sulphites are present in a product or in any of the ingredients used to make that product.

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Do you have food allergies? What kind of information do you think is necessary to see on food labels? Let us know in the comments below.

(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)

By CBC News

Canadian beverage companies will put prominent labels on the front of their non-alcoholic drinks, showing how many calories are in a can or bottle.

Currently, information about calories is printed on the back of beverage containers.

The companies say the move is part of an industry-wide push to help people better understand how many calories they consume when drinking soft drinks, juices, fruit-based drinks, sports drinks and bottled waters.

Canada Dry Mott's, Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada, Cott Beverages Canada, Nestlé Waters Canada and PepsiCo Beverages Canada made the announcement in Vancouver on Tuesday.

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Would larger labels make you more conscious about your calorie intake? Take our survey and tell us what you think below. 

(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)

Related P.O.V.: Pop tax: Would a tax on soft drinks make you think twice?

The daughter of an elderly dementia patient is revealing how her mother was given a potentially dangerous drug -- unapproved for treating her condition -- in B.C. care facilities.

Hilda Penner was given the anti-psychotic drug Loxapine, without consent and despite her daughter's objections, records provided by her family show.

"We told them they were not to give her anti-psychotic drugs," said daughter Doreen Bodnar of the care facilities. "We knew those drugs were terrible for her -- that they did terrible things to her."

Records show the drug eventually contributed to Penner suffering a major seizure. 

Laura Watts, outgoing director of the Canadian Centre for Elder Law, said this is not an isolated case, and she has heard many similar complaints.

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Are you responsible for looking after aging parents? What are some of the issues you're encountering? Share your stories below. 

Some pessimists may have a gloomy outlook because of a genetic condition, a new study suggests.

Researchers at the University of Michigan found that people predisposed to having low levels of the brain chemical neuropeptide Y (or NPY) are more likely to react to stress more negatively.

They also found that a higher proportion of people with major depressive disorder also had low levels of NPY.

The study, which tested how 181 people responded to stress and negative situations, can't prove a cause-and-effect relationship, and the findings on research subjects may not apply to the general population, the researchers said.

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Do you consider yourself an optimist or a pessimist? How do you react in stressful situations? Let us know in the comments below.

(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)

The disease and social burden of drinking too much alcohol is so high that provinces ought to price alcohol based on its strength, a journal article says.
    
A group of doctors is urging provinces to introduce "disincentive pricing" for alcohol: increased prices for stronger alcoholic beverages.

The doctors, writing in the Canadian Medical Association Journal this week, say the social and medical costs of over-drinking are so high that government must step in to curb sales of alcohol.

Among their other recommendations:
   

• Imposing a moratorium on private retail sales outlets (outside of bars and restaurants).
• Increasing effectiveness of drinking and driving penalties.
• Eliminating discount pricing.
• Increasing access to screening at clinics for adult drinkers at risk of alcohol abuse.
• Raising the minimum drinking age to 19 in all provinces. The legal purchase age is 18 in Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec, and 19 elsewhere in the country.

The doctors cited studies that estimate the direct health care costs of alcohol use in Canada to be $3.3 billion and the total direct and indirect costs to be $14.6 billion, compared with $17 billion from tobacco and $8.2 from illegal drugs.

Do you think raising the price of stronger alcoholic beverages will decrease alcohol consumption? Do you agree with any or all of the doctors' recommendations? Let us know in the comments below. 
(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)

The Quebec Coalition on Weight-Related Problems has recommended a tax be imposed on pop and energy drinks.

The group testified before the House of Commons health committee Thursday.

Among their recommendations was an excise tax of one cent per litre on soft drinks and energy drinks. The coalition estimates that this tax would generate $36 million that could go toward programs to promote healthy food choices.

Their other recommendations include:

• Strict regulation of packaging and products, notably their caffeine and calorie levels.
• Ban the sale of soft and energy drinks in buildings under federal jurisdiction.
• Regulate marketing directed at children, as it is already done in Quebec.

What do you think about the idea of a tax on soda products? Would it encourage you to make healthier choices, or is it an infringement on freedom of choice? Take our survey.

Previously: Soda tax: Would it kill your habit?

(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)