When it comes to advertising and labeling, consumers in Canada are particularly vulnerable when buying food, drugs and toys.
The torrent of ads for these goods, many directed at children, sends a message that is often dishonest. Combined with inadequate labels on food and other products means it’s much more difficult to make a wise, healthy choice.
Bill Jeffery, National Coordinator of the Centre for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), is constantly seeking more fairness, accountability and accuracy in how food and other products are advertised and labeled.
The Centre is a non-profit health advocacy organization specializing in nutrition issues with offices in Ottawa, Dallas, and Washington, as well as staff in Toronto.
CSPI does not accept funding from industry or government. Their work is funded by 100,000 Canadian subscribers to their English Nutrition Action Healthletter, on average, one subscribing household within a one block radius of every Canadian street corner.
Examining this issue closely, Mary Jane Eason of the CKUW 95.9 FM program Wooden Spoons, recently spoke with CSPI’s Bill Jeffery: