It's Heart and Stroke month here in Alberta.

Donna Hastings, the CEO of the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Alberta says they're taking aim at the food and beverage industry and the way they advertise to children.

"We did an independent study here in Alberta and learned that 77 per cent of Albertans believe the food and beverage industry markets its products directly to children," Hastings says "Seventy-eight per cent of Albertans believe the food and beverages advertised to children are unhealthy and 71 per cent believe because the food and beverage industry spends so much money on advertising to kids it's really an unfair advantage over parents who are trying to positively influence their children's eating and drinking habits."

Hastings says 90 per cent of those products are high in salt, fat and sugar, leading to obesity and health problems.

She says the government is taking steps to help by introducing a Healthy Eating Strategy in October of 016 including the intention of limiting the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to kids.

Hastings says children see up to 25-million food and beverage ads per year on their top ten favourite web sites

"We know that restricting this kind of advertising works because it's been in place in Quebec for 30 years and children in Quebec have the highest fruit and vegetable intake and lowest obesity rates in the country," she says.

She says throughout the Calgary and High River areas there are over 4,200 canvassers taking to the streets raising money for the Foundation and t's efforts towards awareness and research.

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