What is "health check"

n. a thorough physical examination; includes a variety of tests depending on the age and sex and health of the person [syn: checkup, medical checkup, medical examination, medical exam, medical]

Health Check is Canada's only third party, not-for-profit, national food information program. It was created and administered by the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. The program aims to help Canadians make informed and healthy eating decisions through education, awareness campaigns and the placement of the Health Check logo on the packaging of a food product or restaurant menu item that meets specific requirements.

The Health Check program is a voluntary program corporate companies may choose to participate in. Due to being a voluntary program and not all healthy products in the grocery store or on a menu will have this symbol. Currently there are over 1600 products that have the Health Check symbol. With over 20,000 products in a typical grocery store, having a visible symbol that is easy to distinguish a healthy product from a potentially non-healthy product adds convenience and confidence in healthy decision making for Canadians. A consumer research study of Canadian shoppers indicated 8 out of 10 shoppers have knowledge of Health Check and 90% of Canadians have seen the Health Check symbol on food packaging at the store.

The logo is a white check mark over a red circle. There are Health Check certified products in all categories of Canada's Food Guide. The program also provides health eating information to Canadians in a variety of vehicles and using various media.

From June 2003 to April 2009 the Health Check awareness has increased 30%, and nearly 75% of Canadians trust Health Check and Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada as a credible source of food and nutrition.