If you’ve been on YouTube recently, you might have noticed that “kidfluencers” are extremely popular, with their videos garnering millions of views. These videos produced by teens and children often include various messages that promote junk food and unhealthy eating. As a nutrition and health student, you’re likely passionate about promoting the development of good health habits and eating well. With this in mind, here’s a quick overview of the situation for students taking nutrition and health courses. How Kid Influencers on YouTube Are Promoting Junk Food to Young Viewers Kid-targeted advertising has always been controversial, particularly considering that children.. READ MORE »
January 19, 2021
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most common medications used by many to treat mild to moderate pain. As some of them are considered over-the-counter drugs, they’ve become increasingly relied upon by the average consumer for quick pain relief. As such, understanding how NSAIDs work and what sets them apart from other medications can be extremely valuable for students interested in pharmacology. During your pharmaceutical or regulatory affairs program, you’ll be introduced to key regulatory systems, legislations, and practices that directly affect the development and quality of pharmaceutical products. Here’s a closer look at NSAIDs for those studying.. READ MORE »
January 14, 2021
For any drug to be deemed safe for public consumption, it must first go through a life cycle of development. In Canada, this process is heavily regulated by the federal government, and must adhere to the guidelines of the Canadian Drug Review and Approval Process. Before any drug can be submitted to Health Canada for approval, it must undergo a series of phases, from preliminary research all the way to clinical trials. But what exactly do these processes for verifying a drug’s safety and efficacy involve? And why is each step necessary? Here’s what those seeking clinical research careers should.. READ MORE »
January 12, 2021
As a cannabis quality assurance professional, you’ll want to ensure that the production of cannabis can be scaled up sufficiently while also meeting high standards. However, accomplishing this is a challenge in and of itself. Although recreational cannabis is legalized in Canada, scaling up faces both the typical challenges associated with growing any business, along with some unique hurdles. Between meeting regulations set out by Health Canada, as well as approaches for eliminating pests and ensuring there’s enough product to meet demand, scaling up cannabis growth operations doesn’t come without its share of obstacles. However, those hoping to accomplish this.. READ MORE »
January 7, 2021
Clinical trials are essential for the development of new treatments. With this in mind, it becomes even more important to make sure sensitive data is protected in the process. This is especially true when these trials rely increasingly on digital file storage. Volunteers in these trials trust researchers’ ability to keep their data safe and secure, as well as protect their privacy. This can help prevent avoidable issues from occurring at any phase in the process, and reassure participants that their sensitive information is safe, secure, and confidential. By understanding the importance of protecting sensitive data from the view of.. READ MORE »
January 5, 2021
In the food industry, sampling is a key component of establishing food and beverage quality and safety. It entails taking samples of a given product in order to identify any contaminants that may exist in the entire chain of the food production line. Sampling also helps to ensure the overall quality of a product before it’s packaged and distributed to the marketplace. Manual sampling, involving random samples of a product taken by bin scoop and other by-hand methods, is still an accepted and widely used approach to the practice in the industry. Yet this method is known to be inherently.. READ MORE »
December 31, 2020
Just as professionals in the general foods industry must create rigid manufacturing protocols to prevent foodborne illnesses and other types of hazards, cannabis industry professionals must also take precautions when producing edibles. Regulated by Health Canada, edibles are relatively new to the market. When working on edibles, there are several factors that professionals must take into consideration to prevent products from being contaminated with bacteria, mold, and other types of harmful pathogens. A failure to comply with protocols can lead to potential mishaps, legal consequences, and closure of the manufacturing facility. To understand more on how to keep edibles free.. READ MORE »
December 29, 2020
In the field of clinical research, pharmacovigilance represents the analysis and monitoring of drugs and medications to prevent adverse effects. In order to ensure drug safety and prevent adverse events, Health Canada has generated a list of strict practices and guidelines that must be followed by clinical research professionals and drug manufacturers. The health authority also has an inspection program in place to provide independent oversight and evaluation of manufacturer adherence to mandated reporting of adverse drug reactions, and of any efficacy failures found in new drugs. To understand more on the need to employ pharmacovigilance practices, and what some.. READ MORE »
December 24, 2020
Food safety is a top priority for manufacturers. They must implement policies and follow rigorous guidelines in production and processing environments to ensure that all items released to market are safe for public consumption. A failure to comply with such measures can lead to foodborne illnesses, which may in the worst of circumstances lead to loss of life. Further consequences of such incidents can include a reduction in public confidence, serving to damage the brand’s reputation for a long time. To understand some of the top causes of compromised food safety, and what best practices can be employed in food.. READ MORE »
December 22, 2020
This past year lay witness to challenges for many business niches as a result of the global pandemic. However, cannabis was one sector that was relatively unscathed and in some ways benefitted from the pandemic. Many are predicting continued expansion and additional shifts that could bode well for the cannabis industry in 2021. To understand more on what to expect in the next year, let’ take a closer look at a few of the trends and challenges trade insiders are discussing. Continued Adaptations to the COVID Business Reality The majority of businesses that have managed to survive the pandemic, regardless.. READ MORE »
December 17, 2020