Heart&Stroke Health Check^TM Program

Helping Canadians reduce sodium consumption is a priority for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Health Check is an important way the Foundation has used to reach this goal.   Health Check is actively working to reduce salt in products now, and has been since the program began. Our revised sodium criteria levels reflect this commitment.  A number of Health Check products already meet the revised grocery sodium criteria  and restaurants are actively working on new menu items that meet the new restaurant sodium criteria.  All companies well need to reduce their sodium levels to continue to participate in the Health Check program.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation was one of 17 leading health organizations in Canada to endorse a national Sodium Policy Statement developed by Blood Pressure Canada with the goal of reducing the daily sodium consumption of adult Canadians to between 1200 mg and 2300 mg by January 2020.  The Canadian Government estimates the average Canadian consumes more than 3100 mg of sodium daily, making the average goal of 1500 mg a significant reduction of approximately 50% by 2020.

Health Check has already been proactively making changes to reduce sodium levels to meet the Blood Pressure Canada targets.  In 2007 and 2008, Health Check has reduced sodium levels in our nutrient criteria on a number of food groups by at least 25%.  In some food groups this reduction has been greater than 50%.  Health Check will continue to monitor the market and make future changes to sodium levels to ensure target reductions are achieved.  

The table below is a summary of some of the changes made to the Health Check sodium criteria. 

For more information, please contact Stephanie Lawrence at slawrence@hsf.ca or at 613-569-4361 ext 351.