Products Overview

Making healthy choices in the grocery store can be overwhelming. This is not surprising given all there is to choose from and this can make it difficult to choose wisely.

Health Check is the national not-for-profit food information program of the Heart and Stroke Foundation that helps Canadians make healthier food choices. Health Check provides consumers with a quick visual reference (a symbol) on food packaging, and in a growing number of restaurants beside healthy menu options. The symbol guarantees the food has met specific nutrient criteria based on Canada's Food Guide.

The program is open to any small or large food company. To earn the Health Check symbol, each participating food or restaurant menu item must meet nutrient criteria developed by the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s registered dietitians and nutrition experts. Once a product has been successfully evaluated, companies pay a modest annual licence fee to help cover program costs and to develop tools to educate consumers on healthy eating.

Health Check is the only non-profit, independent, and neutral food information program in the country – the food industry has no involvement in setting the nutrient criteria. The program is based on guidelines and nutrition recommendations for overall health, not heart health. Every product in the program displays the Health Check symbol and a message explaining why it is a healthy choice. Health Check also encourages consumers to read the Nutrition Facts Table provided on all food packages.