About the Brand Name List

What is the Brand Name List?

This list was created by popular demand! BC Schools and Public Buildings told us that they wanted easy access to an up-to-date list of specific products, rated according to the government Guidelines. “Tell us what to stock and we’ll do it!” And so the website came to be!

The Brand Name Food List is meant for ready-to-eat, packaged and franchised foods and beverages that require minimal, if any, preparation (ie: reheating, adding water, portioning etc…).

Each item on the List is rated into one of four ‘Choose categories’: Choose Most, Choose Sometimes, Choose Least, and Not Recommended. You can search the List for a specific item, sort the List, and even submit new items to be added to the List.

The focus of the Brand Name Food List is on packaged and franchised foods and beverages, for example items you might find in a vending machine or brought in for a hot lunch.

Goals of the Brand Name List

The Brand Name Food List makes it easier for BC to create a healthy food environment. Did you know that the package size affects how much you eat or drink? Or that when a food is near you that you eat more of it – whether it’s jelly beans or carrot sticks? If we surround ourselves with lots of Choose Most and Choose Sometimes choices, and no super-sizes, we’ll all eat better!

Limitations of the Tool

Healthy eating emphasizes fresh wholesome ingredients and limits processed and ready-to-eat packaged foods. When packaged foods are used however, the List makes it easier to create a healthy food environment by helping you determine the Choose Most and Choose Sometimes options. For more about healthy eating, check out ‘Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide’, the food and activity tracker available from Dietitians of Canada, or British Columbians can call Dietitian Services at HealthLink BC for family, school, and workplace tips for healthy eating.

Switching to healthier food is a great start. Partner eating well with increasing your physical activity and you are on the path to better health. Check out ActNowBC for ideas.

BC School Guidelines

You can review the detailed nutrition criteria for BC Schools by reading the "Guidelines for Food and Beverage Sales" document. These Guidelines are not intended to address food allergy concerns in schools.

The Guidelines apply to any food or drinks that are sold to students at any school-related event. This includes items sold at school through vending machines, school stores, cafeterias, parent-organized lunch sales, team games, and curriculum projects like food sales for a marketing class or home-ec class. It also includes things sold at school events held off-campus (like track meets or field trips), and school-organized fundraising events that students attend (like fun fairs or bake-sales).

At least half of the choices offered for sale to students need to be Choose Most, and the rest need to be Choose Sometimes.

The Guidelines are tough on high fat, high salt, high sugar, high caffeine, highly processed, super-sized and high calorie foods (elementary and middle schools also have to limit artificial sweeteners). It just doesn’t make sense for schools to be preparing students for healthy productive lives, while selling them things that make it harder to learn and be healthy.

You’ll also find some great fact sheets at the healthy eating at school website. The most popular fact sheet helps schools and parent groups plan healthy lunches. And check out BC’s Healthy Schools Network newsletters for success stories and creative solutions to making healthy choices fun and easy!

BC Public Buildings

A public building has a public responsibility to act in everyone’s best interest. The BC Public Buildings nutrition criteria are available in the Complete Policy Paper. The policy covers all provincially funded buildings like hospitals and Ministry and Health Authority offices and facilities. And while specific to vending machines, the Brand Name Food List team encourages you to apply the nutrition criteria to your snackeries and cafeterias as well!

Recreation centres, pools and rinks, municipal buildings (like City Halls and libraries), concession stands at beaches, parks and stadiums, and private businesses such as shopping malls are also encouraged to use the Public Building nutrition criteria as a guide to creating a healthier BC.

Just like the school guidelines, the Public Building guidelines require that at least half the items offered are Choose Most, and the rest are Choose Sometimes. And the Public Guidelines are just as tough as schools on high fat, high salt, high sugar, highly processed, and high calorie foods. One exception is there is no restriction on caffeine – moderating your caffeine intake will be up to each individual!

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