Friday, June 23, 2017

Counting calories is bad science, and doesn't work anyway


It seems that those who eat at fast food restaurants know what they want, healthy or not, and nothing will change that other than higher taxes



By Patrick Luciani
Senior Fellow
Atlantic Institute for Market Studies
Patrick Luciani
Click image for Hi-Res
HALIFAX, N.S. / Troy Media/ - Last month, after Ontario mandated calorie counting on restaurant menus, Freshii Inc., the Toronto-based salads-soups-and-wraps healthy-eating chain, balked. The chain's motto is "count nutrients, not calories." But the calorie police moved in and forced the company to post the calorie counts on boards and menus.
In the end, Freshii fell to the forces of junk science. The company's motto has the science just right.
In 2008 the Harvard University Dining Services posted calorie and nutrition information for all it cafeteria food items hoping to better get students to eat better. A year later they abandoned the entire program. Why? It seemed students were going for low calorie foods and not getting the nutrition they needed, especially kids with eating disorders.
A recent study in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, women suffering from anorexia and bulimia tended to eat less when calorie labels were available and those suffering from binge eating tended to eat more.
Nonetheless, Ontario's Ministry of Health is now laying down the law on legislation passed last year that forces restaurants with more than 20 outlets in the province - mostly fast food places such as McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken but plenty of other lesser brands- to post calorie labels on all food items.
The Ontario government seems completely oblivious to research in the United States - where labelling laws have been in operation since the early 1990s - which shows that the policy doesn't work in getting people to eat healthy, lose weight or bring down obesity levels.
In a study in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, the authors monitored food purchases at a fast-food chain in King County, Washington, and found the total number sales and the average calories per order was the same with or without food labelling.
Even the lead author of the study, Eric Finkelstein at Duke University - who has written extensively on the economics of food policy - was surprised by the results. He concludes that people's eating behaviour does not change by labelling foods with nutrient contents or calories.
It seems that those who eat at fast food restaurants know what they want, healthy or not, and nothing will change that other than higher taxes.
There is also a class and income angle to the science. Lower-income consumers tend to ignore labelling much more than those who earn more. Healthy eaters who are richer tend to read nutrition labels while poorer unhealthy eaters don't. The very people whose behaviour the legislation is geared to influence seem immune to the labelling laws, making calorie counting a waste of time and money.
But it doesn't end there. We also know that there is no correlation between healthy foods and calorie levels. Nuts and seeds, for example, are heavy in calories but packed with nutrients making them a staple of any healthy diet; the same with unsaturated oils such as virgin olive oil and avocados; all high in calories and all recommended as healthy foods.
One would also expect the science of food calorie measurement to be highly accurate, but it isn't. It seems that the values reported on food labels don't capture the costs of digestion that are lower for processed foods. The method used to measure caloric content is something called the Atwater system, developed in the 19th century.
By burning samples of food one can measure the number of calories by the heat released. This is how food manufactures measure calorie content. But our digestive systems use foods differently even though two foods may have the same number of calories. According to this method a 28 gram serving of almonds has about 170 calories but the real energy content is around 129 calories, considerably less than labelled. Nutrition scientist Rachel Carmody from Harvard reported calorie differences could be as high as 50 percent. In other words, calorie labelling is a very crude way to measure how our bodies use the energy released in foods, making government labelling all but useless. More information isn't always better information.
This is one area where health public policy is far behind the science of nutrition and behavioural economics. If governments try to improve our eating habits and reduce weight, this isn't the scientific way to do it.
Patrick Luciani is a Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS.ca).
© 2017 Distributed by Troy Media

Friday, June 9, 2017

JOIN THE CANADIAN GARDEN CELEBRATION June 9 to 18, 2017



TORONTO, Ont. (June 7, 2017)Garden Days is Canada’s fun-filled celebration of our National Garden Day, Friday, June 16th, held annually on the Friday before Father’s Day.

In response to popular demand, Garden Days has grown from a 3-day, to a ten-day event. This year’s dates are June 9 to 18, inclusive.

The Garden Days program of activities and events is an opportunity for all Canadians to get outside to enjoy their own garden, visit or take part in their favourite garden experience, get inspired at their local garden centre or travel to a nearby destination to enjoy their favourite public garden.

National Launch event

The 2017 launch of Garden Days will take place on Friday, June 9th at the Global Centre for Pluralism’s new garden in Ottawa.  This event will also be the opening day of Ottawa/Gatineau’s newest garden attraction – The Garden Promenade –  connecting and collectively promoting 40 gardens and over 70 different garden experiences, the Global Centre for Pluralism’s new garden being one of them.

Garden Days activities across the country

There are hundreds of fun activities planned from one end of the country to the other all celebrating the role of gardens in our communities and our lives.  To find an activity near you, visit http://gardendays.ca/

There’s still time to register your activities

All Canadian gardens, garden and horticultural organizations, schools, communities and garden-related businesses (e.g. garden centres) are invited to organize activities or events to celebrate public gardens and home gardening and register them, at no cost, on the Garden Days website.  It’s as simple as visiting http://gardendays.ca/ <http://gardendays.ca/> and clicking on the ‘Register’ button.

The objective of Garden Days is to draw attention to Canada’s garden culture, history and innovations and to underscore the importance of public and private gardens, the values of home gardening and the promotion of environmental stewardship.

Above all, the aim of this program is to have some great outdoor fun and celebrate the role of gardens and gardening in our communities and our lives.
* * * * * * * * * *


Garden Days is organized by the Canadian Garden Council with the support of Canadian Nursery Landscape Association, Landscape Ontario, Communities in Bloom, Québec Gardens Association, Gardens BC, Ontario Garden Council, Compost Council of Canada, ParticipACTION, Nutrients for Life, Agriculture in the Classroom and Leisure Information Network.  Garden Days is sponsored by Scotts.  

Follow Garden Days’ social media accounts for the latest news and updates:

https://twitter.com/canadasgardens   #GardenDaysCanada and/or #journeesdujardin 

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Eggland's Best Turns to Fans to Help Vote for the Ultimate Eggland's Best "Foodtographer"

Appetizer Semi-Finalists Announced In The 2017 Eggland's Best "Foodtography" Contest




CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J., June, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Eggland's Best (EB) is excited to
 announce the top five Appetizer semi-finalist photos in the 2017 Eggland's Best "Foodtography"
Contest. From unique takes on deviled eggs to savory and veggie-inspired dishes, the
semi-finalist photos represent the most passionate EB fans who also happen to have
 an eye for taking beautiful photos of their delicious and healthy EB dishes.  
"To celebrate 25 years of providing the only egg that provides better taste, better nutrition,
better freshness and better variety, we asked our loyal fans to submit mouthwatering photos
of their favorite EB dishes," said Charlie Lanktree, President and CEO of Eggland's Best. 
"We were extremely impressed with how the semi-finalists were able to take ordinary
appetizers and create nutritionally superior and delicious dishes using Eggland's Best eggs.
We hope this will inspire others to create and share their own nutritious Eggland's Best creations."
From now through June 18th, EB is calling on fans to vote for their favorite Appetizer
category photo to help determine which of the semi-finalists will move on to the finalist
round for a chance to compete for the Grand Prize. Last month, the Breakfast/Brunch
category semi-finalists were announced and voted on,  and later fans will have the
opportunity to also vote on semi-finalists in the Main Course and Dessert categories.
 The Appetizer semi-finalists include:
  • Nanette O., Utah – Roasted Vegetables and Egg Pastries
  • Jessica S., New Jersey – Steak & Egg Land Deviled Eggs
  • Shauna H., Utah  – Savory Chicken Baklava
  • Lisa K., Pennsylvania – Crispy Coconut Curried Devils
  • Cheryl H., Ohio – Salmon & Cheddar Croquettes
Once finalists from each category are selected and announced, fans will once again
 have the chance to vote for the ultimate Eggland's Best Foodtographer!  The
 Grand Prize winner will be awarded $5,000 and a year's supply of EB eggs,
 and finalists will receive $1,000.
"Traditional party appetizers can sometimes be lacking in nutrition, which is not the
 case for the mouthwatering semi-finalist appetizer dishes submitted in this year's
 Eggland's Best Foodtography Contest," said Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist
Dawn Jackson Blatner.  "Using a better egg like Eggland's Best adds superior
 nutrition and taste to any dish, which is why they are the only eggs I recommend
to my clients and serve to my family."
Compared to ordinary eggs, EB eggs contain six times more vitamin D, 25 percent
less saturated fat, more than double the Omega-3s, ten times more vitamin E and
more than double the vitamin B12.  EB eggs are also an excellent source of vitamin B2
(Riboflavin) and vitamin B5.   EB's superior nutritional profile is due to its proprietary
all-vegetarian hen feed that contains healthy grains, canola oil and a wholesome
supplement of rice bran, alfalfa, sea kelp and Vitamin E.  In addition, independent
 testing has revealed that Eggland's Best eggs have stronger shells than ordinary eggs,
 which leads to less breakage and helps them stay fresher longer than ordinary eggs.
For Official Rules and to cast your vote, visit www.egglandsbest.com/foodtography.
About Eggland's Best Eggs
Eggland's Best (EB) is the No. 1 branded egg in the U.S. and is an excellent source of
vitamins D, B12, E, B5 and Riboflavin. EB eggs have six times more vitamin D, more
 than double the omega-3, 10 times more vitamin E and 25 percent less saturated fat
 than ordinary eggs. Independent testing has also confirmed that Eggland's Best eggs
stay fresher longer than ordinary eggs.
The distinctive "EB" stamp on the shell assures consumers and food service customers
 that the eggs meet the highest production and safety standards. Eggland's Best was voted
 "America's Most Trusted Egg Brand" by American shoppers in the BrandSpark
Most Trusted Awards, "America's Most Recommended™ Eggs" by women in the
Women's Choice Awards, and has received numerous awards from Prevention
 Magazine, Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Taste of Home, Women's Health, and many others. 
Eggland's Best was also awarded "Product of the Year" in the egg category by
 Product of the Year USA. Eggland's Best's hens are fed a strictly controlled,
 proprietary, high-quality all-vegetarian diet, which results in a better tasting,
more nutritious egg that stays fresher longer. EB eggs are available in large,
 extra-large, jumbo, cage free, organic, hard-cooked, cage free hard-cooked, l
iquid egg whites, and are certified Kosher. For more information,
 visit www.egglandsbest.com.



CONTACT: Colleen Imler, Coyne PR, (973) 588-2000, cimler@coynepr.com


Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Café Valley® Introduces New Dr Pepper™ Cake At International Dairy Deli Bakery Association Show




PHOENIX, June 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Café Valley Bakery, a leading bakery
 product producer, is partnering with a legendary soda brand to expand its existing
soda cake lineup with a Dr Pepper™ Cake. The new cake will join an array of
soda cakes including 7UP®, Orange Crush®, and A&W Root Beer™, and will
 be unveiled at the upcoming International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA)
 show in Anaheim, Calif., June 2 – 6 at booth 3901. The new flavor will be
available in grocers nationwide in June with a suggested retail price of $5.99 per package.
Made with real Dr Pepper, the soda cake is exploding with the spicy taste
of the popular soft drink made from a unique blend of 23 flavors.
"Our partnership with Dr Pepper will guarantee consumers the real, genuine
 soda taste, just as delicious as our other fun soda cake flavors," said Brian Owens,
chief executive officer of Café Valley. "This cake features premium ingredients
 and the high-quality taste our customers have come to expect. We look forward
to bringing the latest delightful flavor and enjoyable experience home to your family."
In addition to releasing the latest cake to their soda cake line at the upcoming IDDBA
show, new coffee cake bites will also be revealed. Ideal for on-the-go snacking,
the coffee cake bites will be available in Triple Chocolate, Triple Cinnamon,
Real Lemon and Wild Blueberry. The bites will be available at retailers following
IDDBA for a suggested retail price of $3.99 per twelve-pack. Café Valley will
also introduce delicious, thaw and sell, coffeehouse quality Chocolate Croissants
 that will be available following the IDDBA at retailers for a suggested retail price
of $3.99 per four-pack.
These new product launches represent a response to growing demand for
 Café Valley's signature, ready-to-eat products and the increased interest
n a diverse variety of uniquely flavored baked goods. 
About Café Valley Bakery Since 1987, Café Valley Bakery has been producing high-quality bakery
products for in-store bakeries, club stores, food service and convenience
 stores throughout the world. Through innovative bakery techniques and
unique recipes, Café Valley produces the most delectable croissants,
muffins, Bundt cakes, ring cakes, loaf cakes, Danishes and turnovers, and
their signature Café Bites. Café Valley's delicious baked goods are designed
to complement every bakery's existing core items and add new excitement,
profitability and growth to the bakery category. For further information about
Café Valley Bakery, please visit www.cafevalley.com.

About Dr PepperDr Pepper, a brand of Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS), is the
oldest major soft drink in the United States. Since 1885, the 23 flavors of
 Dr Pepper have earned legions of fans that enjoy its unique, refreshing taste.
The brand is available in Regular, Low Calorie, Diet, Caffeine Free and Cherry
 varieties. DPS is a leading producer of flavored beverages, marketing
Dr Pepper and 50-plus other beverage brands across North America and
 the Caribbean. For more information, visit DrPepper.com or DrPepperSnapple.com.
 For the brand's latest news and updates, follow Dr Pepper at
 Facebook.com/DrPepper or Twitter.com/DrPepper.

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

TAKE YOUR CHILDREN TO A LAND FAR, FAR AWAY… WITHOUT LEAVING TORONTO

LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto Opens New Attraction – Ninjago City Adventure

TORONTO, Ont. (June, 2017) - Get ready to put your ninja skills to the ultimate test in the all-new LEGO® Ninjago City Adventure, which opened June 2 at LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto. The over $750,000, 2,300-square-foot interactive play area is the Centre’s 5th interactive experience added since opening four years ago.

Modeled after the Temple of Airjitzu, the two-story play structure puts guests’ physical skills to the test as they fight to save Ninjago City. Together, adults and children will test their balance, agility, strength and endurance to become a Spinjitzu Master, all while experiencing more than 20 interactive features.
Guests of ALL ages can join Sensei Wu and practice ninja moves in the Dojo training room by testing hand-eye coordination on the color crush reflex reaction game. Moving on to the temple, ninjas-in-training engage in several obstacle course challenges inspired by their favorite Ninjago characters Kai, Jay, Cole, Lloyd, Zane and Nya.

There are tons of interactive activities including navigating a vortex spinning barrel, mastering the art of Spinjitzu on the spiral slide of lights, harnessing the power of the water on wave decks, crawling through hover rings and lightning buzzer bars, taking on a crisscross maze and vertical rope climb, testing LEGO® building skills and more.

Some Ninjago City Stats:

·         It’s taken approximately 7,000 hours to build Ninjago City Adventure
·         More than 110,000 LEGO® bricks were used to create the three showcase models: Sensei Wu, Jay and Nya
·         The three Ninjago models were built in Kladno, in the Czech Republic, by LEGO Production s.r.o. Built by LEGO® model builders
·         There are over 20 interactives for kids, including a Ninjago model build table, reaction game, endless pit, spinning barrel, Pogo power and more
·         There is a special Toddler Area that features a Spin Cup (spin like a Spinjitzu Master), Toddler Climber (develop your perceptions and quick Ninja reflexes) and Drum Panel (play with elemental sounds and power)
·         Ninjago City Adventure was constructed by Soft Play from North Carolina, one of the largest manufacturers in the world

“We’re excited to provide our guests with an amazing, new interactive play area, LEGO® Ninjago City Adventure, which immerses guests into the world of the popular LEGO® Ninjago building sets,” says Rene Gurtner, General Manager, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto.  “This incredibly fun, tremendous play area is going to provide our guests with an entirely new world in which to create, explore and play for hours in a safe and structured environment.”

To celebrate the opening of Ninjago City Adventure, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto will take $5 off a regular-priced admission ticket for any child who wears his or her martial arts uniform in the month of June.

LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre is the ultimate indoor LEGO playground featuring more than 3 million LEGO® bricks, geared towards families with children aged 3-10. Its range of educational and interactive attractions include hands-on play areas, a 4D cinema, the Master Builder Academy, two LEGO® amusement rides, special party rooms and MINILAND — the venue’s signature re-creation of landmark locations and buildings throughout Toronto, made entirely out of more than 1 million LEGO® bricks. Advance tickets and annual passes to LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre are available online.

LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto is located at Vaughan Mills, 1 Bass Pro Mills Drive in Vaughan, Ontario. Yonkers.

For more information about LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto, please visit www.legolanddiscoverycentre.ca and follow it on Facebook and Twitter.

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About LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto
LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Toronto is a heavily LEGO® themed indoor attraction that appeals to a child’s fascination with the timeless LEGO® product, taking them into a world of endless possibilities!
                                                                
Our attraction gives children and their families the opportunity to play together in a LEGO® world.  Imagination comes to life with zones dedicated to the most popular LEGO® product ranges, LEGO® themed rides, 4D movie experiences, a unique MINILAND installation of the City of Toronto and surrounding areas and a chance to meet our LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Master Model Builder – Noel. Adults must be accompanied by children to enter.

About the LEGO Group
The LEGO Group is a privately held, family-owned company with headquarters in Billund, Denmark, and main offices in Enfield, USA, London, UK, Shanghai, China, and Singapore. Founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, and based on the iconic LEGO® brick, it is one of the world's leading manufacturers of play materials.  Guided by the company spirit: "Only the best is good enough”, the company is committed to the development of children and aims to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through creative play and learning. LEGO products are sold worldwide and can be virtually explored at www.LEGO.com.  For more news from the LEGO Group, information about our financial performance and responsibility engagement, please visit http://www.LEGO.com/aboutus.

About Merlin Entertainments plc
Merlin Entertainments plc is a global leader in location based, family entertainment. As Europe's Number 1 and the world's second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates over 100 attractions, 13 hotels and 5 holiday villages in 24 countries and across 4 continents. The company aims to deliver memorable experiences to more than 63 million visitors worldwide, through its iconic global and local brands, and the commitment and passion of its approximately 27,000 employees (peak season).  Visit www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.


Friday, June 2, 2017

Smucker's® Uncrustables® Brand Removes High Fructose Corn Syrup from the Classic PB&J Sandwich Recipe





ORRVILLE, Ohio, May 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Just ahead of the busy summer snacking
season, Smucker's® Uncrustables® has updated its full sandwich line by replacing high
 fructose corn syrup with sugar while maintaining the delicious taste families love.
The reformulated Smucker's Uncrustables sandwiches have also been certified
non-GMO and NSF Non-GMO True North™ by NSF International. NSF 
International provides third-party certification for non-GMO products.
"While the immense popularity of Smucker's Uncrustables has led to record sales,
we continually review our products and ingredients to make sure they meet the
evolving preferences of our consumers," said Maribeth Burns, vice president
corporate communications at The J.M. Smucker Company. "As more and more
 families enjoy Smucker's Uncrustables sandwiches as a snack or a meal, it is
 important we maintain the superior quality and ingredients consumers have come
 to expect and the taste they have come to love."
This announcement comes on the heels of plans to build an additional
  Smucker's Uncrustables manufacturing facility in Longmont, Colorado.
The new facility will help meet growing demand for Smucker's Uncrustables,
 which has grown from approximately $10 million in annual sales in 2000 to
a $200 million business today. The new Longmont facility will complement
 the company's Smucker's Uncrustables sandwiches manufacturing facility
in Scottsville, Kentucky, which will continue to produce up to two million sandwiches per day.
The reformulated Smucker's Uncrustables sandwiches will begin to appear
 in frozen aisles of retailers nationwide this summer. They can be easily
 identified by new product packaging that features no high fructose corn syrup,
 while continuing to show important features like protein content, flavor variety,
and sandwich count.
Smucker's Uncrustables sandwiches are delicious pre-made frozen peanut
 butter and jelly sandwiches that consumers simply thaw and serve. With a
 variety of sweet and fruit spreads and whole wheat and reduced-sugar options,
these handheld sandwiches make perfect on-the-go snacks or meals.
Smucker's Uncrustables sandwiches come in a variety of flavors including
 peanut butter and grape jelly, peanut butter and strawberry jam, peanut butter
and honey spread, and chocolate flavored hazelnut spread.
To learn more about Smucker's Uncrustables and where to find them,
 please visit http://www.smuckersuncrustables.com/, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
About The J.M. Smucker CompanyFor 120 years, The J.M. Smucker Company has been committed to offering consumers
quality products that bring families together to share memorable meals and moments.
 Today, Smucker is a leading marketer and manufacturer of consumer food and
beverage products and pet food and pet snacks in North America. In consumer foods
and beverages, its brands include Smucker's®, Folgers®, Jif®, Dunkin' Donuts®,
  Crisco®, Pillsbury®, R.W. Knudsen Family®, Hungry Jack®, Café Bustelo®,
Martha White®, truRoots®, Sahale Snacks®, Robin Hood®,
and Bick's®. In pet food and pet snacks, its brands include Meow Mix®
Milk-Bone®, Kibbles 'n Bits®, Natural Balance®, and 9Lives®. The
Company remains rooted in the Basic Beliefs of Quality, People, Ethics, 
Growth, and Independence established by its founder and namesake more
than a century ago. For more information about the Company, visit jmsmucker.com.
The J.M. Smucker Company is the owner of all trademarks referenced herein,
 except for the following, which are used under license: Pillsbury® is a trademark
of The Pillsbury Company, LLC and Dunkin' Donuts®is a registered trademark
 of DD IP Holder LLC.
Dunkin' Donuts®brand is licensed to The J.M. Smucker Company for packaged
 coffee products sold in retail channels such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers,
club stores, and drug stores.  This information does not pertain to Dunkin' Donuts®
coffee or other products for sale in Dunkin' Donuts® restaurants.