Global warming may also increase kidney stones

A study suggests the painful experience of passing a kidney stone may become more common if temperatures rise with climate change.

Researchers at the University of Texas say the so-called "kidney-stone belts" around the world with the highest rates of occurrences are expected to expand as temperatures increase.

Dehydration and living in warmer climates are risk factors linked to kidney-stone disease and some regions in the United States are projected to see as much as a 30 per cent increase in cases by 2050.

The researchers didn't estimate how much cases could increase in Canada, but they found that several U.S. border states could see growth rates as high as 10 to 15 per cent in some areas.

Study author Dr. Margaret Pearle says the research is one of the first examples of global warming causing a direct medical consequence for people.

The Kidney Foundation of Canada says about one in 10 Canadians will develop a kidney stone at some point in their lives.

Canada announces food label changes

Ottawa has fleshed out food labelling guidelines unveiled earlier this year by Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced the new rules that come into effect next Jan. 1 and apply to all foods produced from that day forward.

Under the new rules, foods labelled as a Canadian product must contain "all or virtually all contents" that are from Canada.

It's currently legal to call a product "made in Canada" if 51 per cent of the production costs were incurred here and the final transformation of product was in Canada.

The government says 90 per cent of 1,500 Canadians who filled out an online survey agreed with the new guidelines.

-- Compiled by Florence Sicoli from Hamilton Spectator news services