CSPI Accomplishments ~ Centre for Science in the Public Interest

Members talk about CSPI...

"CSPI has been a real crusader for public awareness!"
— Winona Rowat, M.D.
Vancouver, British Columbia

"Our world is not perfect, but because of your hard work, it is a better place to live in."
— Mary Gerovac
Toronto, Ontario

"CSPI chooses its battles carefully and backs up its advocacy work with sound research. I feel confident supporting you."
— Laura DesBrisay
Halifax, Nova Scotia

"I'm happy that CSPI is looking out for us."
— Joyce Dawson
Mount Forest, Ontario

"I like the fact that CSPI lobbies our government on nutrition issues and legislation affecting everyone."
— Jackie Kokotylo
Surrey, British Columbia

"I love CSPI and I'm especially pleased about your interest in Canada."
— Annette Balgord
Oakville, Ontario

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CSPI dared to make these things happen ...

1996	CSPI begins publication of the Canadian edition of its Nutrition Action Healthletter, bringing life-saving information to Canadian consumers. U.S. makers of baby food improve the nutrient content of their products in Canada after CSPI reveals that their foods contain more fillers including starch, water, and sugar in Canada than in the U.S.
1997	CSPI opens an advocacy office in Ottawa to begin working for mandatory nutrition labelling and other health measures. Nutrition Action Healthletter exceeds 100,000 circulation and becomes the largest-circulation, most-read health newsletter in Canada.
1998	CSPI is instrumental in the introduction of a bill in Parliament to require comprehensive, easy-to-read, mandatory nutrition labelling.
1999	CSPI establishes the Alliance for Food Label Reform/Alliance pour la réforme de látiquetage des produits alimentaires including groups representing almost two million Canadian consumers and health-care professionals across Canada to work for a comprehensive national nutrition labelling law.
2000	CSPI helps persuade Health Canada not to approve the indigestible fat substitute, olestra, which blocks vitamin and mineral absorption and causes gastrointestinal problems for many consumers in the U.S.
2001	CSPI leads the Alliance for Food Label Reform's efforts to ensure that the government's proposed food-labelling regulations are pro-consumer.
2002	CSPI is instrumental in convincing Health Canada to abandon a food-industry-backed proposal that would have permitted the use of poorly substantiated health claims on food labels and in advertising.
2003	CSPI's 6-year national campaign culminates in formal publication of federal regulations requiring nutrition labelling of most packaged foods. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, partly in response to criticism by CSPI, admits that many ingredient claims are misleading and initiates consultation on proposed new rules requiring percentage-ingredient labelling.
2004	Following a hard-won resolution sought by CSPI, the House of Commons Health Committee considers a proposed bill to require nutrition labelling for all fresh meat, poultry, and seafood, and nutrition information on menu boards and menus of large chain restaurants.
2005	The federal government dedicates $42 million a year to a new chronic disease prevention program thanks, in part, to CSPI's efforts – aimed at improving Canadians' diets, increasing their physical activity, and reducing their obesity rates. CSPI's National Coordinator is appointed to a federal Task Force charged with recommending measures to Parliament to eliminate dangerous trans fats from the food supply.
2006	CSPI's participation on the federal Trans Fat Task Force is crucial to its adoption of a recommendation to ban the dangerous additive.
2007	CSPI proposes simplified "front of package" nutrition symbols on food labels and restaurant menus, and a ban on confusing, privately sponsored symbol schemes. CSPI publishes a landmark report, Are Schools Making the Grade? Provincial School Nutrition Policies Across Canada, criticizing the new – but lax – provincial nutrition standards for school foods and the inadequate subsidies for fruits, vegetables, and other healthy foods served to students in school cafeterias.
2008	CSPI publishes a report revealing restaurants' poor performance in their voluntary Nutrition Information Program. CSPI spurs the federal government to examine ways to reduce sodium in packaged and restaurant foods. CSPI's efforts encourage action by British Columbia and Calgary governments to outlaw trans fat in restaurants and by Ontario to begin removing trans from school food. CSPI holds its first Championing Public Health Nutrition conference in Ottawa.
2009	CSPI publishes Salty to a Fault, exposing the fact that excess sodium kills more Canadians every year than any other food additive and urging the government to reduce salt in the food supply. CSPI helps ensure passage of a crucial first vote in the Ontario Legislature on a bill to require chain-restaurants to list calories on menus and menu boards. CSPI works to ensure that the government’s economic stimulus package supports health-friendly projects.
2010	CSPI holds its second national Championing Public Health Nutrition conference in Ottawa to improve health, protect children, and protect Medicare by preventing diet-related disease. The Sodium Working Group, on which CSPI National Coordinator Bill Jeffery serves, publishes its Sodium Reduction Strategy for Canada to guide the Minister of Health in reducing sodium in the national diet. CSPI mobilizes health and citizen groups to pressure the government to back a World Health Assembly resolution to curb junk food marketing to children. CSPI helps bring near to passage a bill before the Ontario legislature requiring nutrition labelling on restaurant menus.

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