In this article we will dive into some required elements on food labels of prepackaged foods sold in Canada. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and Substance Law is available to assist you in making sure your products are compliant for the Canadian market. NOTE: There may be additional legal labelling requirements beyond what is discussed in this guide – Please always consult a lawyer.
All consumer prepackaged foods in Canada must display three core elements: a proper common name, accurate net quantity declaration, and complete manufacturer information. These requirements form the foundation of Canadian food labelling compliance under federal regulations.
Common Name Standards
The common name must appear on the principal display panel in letters at least 1.6 mm tall. For packages with a principal display surface of 10 cm² or less, the minimum height drops to 0.8 mm.
Food manufacturers should use the specific common name from the Food and Drug Regulations printed in bold face type. If no regulated name exists, they must use the name by which consumers generally know the food.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency requires descriptive words when a food might be mistaken for another product. For example, “imitation cheese” rather than just “cheese” for non-dairy alternatives.
Acceptable Common Name Sources:
- Food and Drug Regulations (bold face entries)
- Canadian Standards of Identity documents
- Generally recognized names that describe the food accurately
- Names prescribed by other regulations
Net Quantity Declaration
The net quantity must appear on the principal display panel using metric units only. Manufacturers declare volume for liquids (mL, L) and weight for solids (g, kg).
Numbers must be rounded to three significant figures unless the quantity is below 100. The numerical portion requires specific minimum type heights based on package size, displayed in bold face type.
Bilingual symbols are mandatory: ml, mL, or mℓ for milliliters and L, l, or ℓ for liters. When units are written out completely, both English and French versions must appear unless the product qualifies for bilingual labelling exemptions.
Net Quantity Requirements:
- Location: Principal display panel only
- Units: Metric (volume for liquids, weight for solids)
- Format: Bold face type with proper sizing
- Language: Bilingual symbols required
Manufacturer and Importer Information
Every food label must display the name and principal place of business in letters 1.6 mm or greater. For very small packages (10 cm² or less), the minimum drops to 0.8 mm.
This information can appear on any panel except solely on the bottom, unless dealing with ornamental containers. Companies may display the information in English or French, not necessarily both languages.
Imported Products require special handling. Labels must show either the Canadian importer’s details grouped with geographic origin, or clearly identify foreign manufacturer information with phrases like “Imported by” or “Imported for.”
Required Information Elements:
- Company or individual name
- Street address or postal address
- City, province, and postal code
- Proper identification for imported products
The industry labelling tool provides detailed guidance for manufacturers navigating these mandatory requirements across different product categories and package sizes.
Detailed Nutrition Labelling Compliance
The Nutrition Facts table must display accurate serving sizes, calorie information, and core nutrients in the correct format. Food manufacturers need nutrition symbols when products exceed specific thresholds for saturated fat, sugars, or sodium.
Nutrition Facts Table Format
The nutrition labelling requirements specify that most Canadian food products must display a properly formatted NFt. The table must appear on one continuous surface of the available display surface.
Food manufacturers must choose from five format families. The standard format applies to most foods, while the simplified format works when six or more core nutrients equal zero.
Format Requirements:
- Sans serif font only
- Black text on white background
- Proper indentation and spacing
- No character crowding
- Correct capitalization patterns
The NFt must include energy (calories) and 12 core nutrients unless simplified format conditions apply. These nutrients include fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, sugars, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron.
Products with available display surfaces less than 15 cm² are exempt from nutrition labelling. Small packages under 100 cm² may qualify for exemptions with proper contact information.
Serving Size and Calories
Serving sizes must align with Health Canada’s regulated reference amounts. The labelling requirements checklist confirms that household measures appear first, followed by metric measures in parentheses.
Single-serving containers must contain less than 200% of the reference amount. The package quantity should be reasonable for one person to consume in a single eating occasion.
Calorie Declaration Rules:
- Round to nearest 5 calories if 50 calories or more
- Round to nearest calorie if less than 50 calories
- Declare as “0” if less than 5 calories per serving
Percent Daily Values must appear for applicable nutrients. The interpretative statement “% Daily Value” appears at the bottom of standard format tables when required.
All amounts follow specific rounding rules set in Canadian food regulations. Manufacturers cannot declare non-permitted nutrients in the NFt.
Nutrition Symbol and Claims
The front-of-package nutrition symbol becomes mandatory when products exceed nutrient thresholds. Foods containing high levels of saturated fat, sugars, or sodium above specified amounts must display the warning symbol.
The nutrition symbol must appear on the principal display panel. Scale-labelled products may place symbols on the principal display surface instead.
Symbol Requirements:
- Proportional to package size
- Meets technical specifications
- Bilingual text requirements
- Proper orientation and legibility
Products sold only where packaged and labelled with stickers may have modified size requirements for packages over 250 cm².
Assortments and multi-packs need nutrition symbols when one or more contained foods require them. Each individual product’s nutrient content determines symbol necessity.
Manufacturers cannot make unauthorized nutrition claims. Health Canada regulates all nutrition content claims and health claims through specific criteria and conditions.
Ingredient, Allergen, and Additive Disclosure
Canadian food manufacturers must follow strict rules for declaring ingredients by weight order, clearly labeling all priority allergens through ingredient lists or Contains statements, and properly identifying food additives with their prescribed names or class functions.
List of Ingredients and Order
All prepackaged products with more than one ingredient must declare their ingredients in descending order by weight. The Food and Drug Regulations require this order based on ingredient weights before combining them to make the final product.
Manufacturers must list ingredients by their common names. The weight order reflects what goes into the mixing bowl, not the final product weight.
Exceptions to standard ordering include:
- Spices and herbs
- Natural and artificial flavours
- Food additives (except preparation ingredients)
- Vitamins and mineral nutrients
- Seasoning ingredients under 2% total weight
These exceptions can appear at the end of the ingredient list in any order. The FDR allows this flexibility for ingredients that typically make up small portions of products.
Sugar-based ingredients require special grouping. They must appear together following the term “Sugars” in the ingredient list. This grouping helps consumers identify total sugar content more easily.
Allergen Labelling Procedures
Priority food allergens must appear clearly on Canadian food labels when present as ingredients or components. Allergens can be listed in the ingredient list or in a Contains statement immediately after ingredients.
The Contains statement must include all priority allergens, even when already mentioned in the ingredient list. This dual approach ensures consumers can quickly identify potential allergens.
Priority allergens requiring declaration:
- Milk and dairy products
- Eggs
- Fish and seafood
- Tree nuts and peanuts
- Soy and wheat (gluten)
- Sesame seeds
- Mustard
Added sulphites at 10 parts per million or higher must be declared using prescribed source names. Cross-contamination statements may appear when unintended allergen presence occurs despite reasonable prevention measures.
A phenylalanine statement is required when aspartame appears in products. This warning protects individuals with phenylketonuria who cannot process phenylalanine safely.
Food Additive Labelling
Food additives must appear in ingredient lists using either their prescribed names or class function plus specific name. The Food and Drug Regulations specify exact naming requirements for different additive categories.
Additives can be listed at the end of ingredient lists in any order, regardless of their weight proportion. This exception applies to most food additives except ingredients within additive preparations.
Common additive categories include:
- Preservatives (benzoic acid, sodium benzoate)
- Colours (artificial colours by name)
- Flavour enhancers (monosodium glutamate)
- Emulsifiers and stabilizers
Artificial flavours require declaration but can appear simply as “artificial flavour” without specific chemical names. Natural flavours follow similar simplified naming rules.
Some additives have specific declaration requirements. Colours derived from food allergen sources must include allergen information. Certain preservatives require both class name and specific chemical identification for consumer safety.
Special Labelling Situations and Products
Certain food products require additional labelling information beyond standard requirements, including country of origin disclosure for imported goods and specific date marking systems. Commodity-specific foods like honey, fresh fruits, and vegetables must follow specialized standards under Canadian Food Inspection Agency oversight.
Country of Origin Disclosure
Imported food products must display country of origin labelling information to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency requires this information on specific product categories.
Required Products:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- Honey and maple syrup
- Fish and seafood products
- Meat and poultry items
The country of origin must appear on the principal display panel or information panel. Food businesses can use phrases like “Product of Canada” or “Imported from [country name].”
For multi-ingredient products, country of origin labelling applies when one ingredient makes up more than 50% of the total product weight. Mixed products require clear identification of each country contributing ingredients.
Placement Requirements:
- Minimum 1.6mm letter height
- Clear, legible font style
- Contrasting background colors
- Cannot be obscured by other labels
Date Marking and Expiry Information
Food products with a durable life of 90 days or less must display proper date marking under SFCA regulations. Different products require specific date marking formats depending on their packaging and storage requirements.
“Best Before” Date Requirements:
- Required for prepackaged foods with 90-day shelf life
- Must use bilingual wording: “Best before/Meilleur avant”
- Date format: year, month, day or month, day
- Can appear anywhere on package including bottom
“Packaged On” Date Requirements:
- Required for foods packaged at retail locations
- Must include “Packaged on/Empaqueté le” wording
- Same date format as best before dates
- Storage instructions required when conditions differ from room temperature
Expiration dates apply specifically to infant formula and special dietary foods. These products cannot be sold past their expiration date under any circumstances.
Commodity-Specific Requirements
The SFCR establishes standards of identity for specific food categories that require additional labelling elements beyond standard requirements. These standards ensure product quality and consumer protection.
Honey Products:
- Must display floral source when single variety
- Country of origin labelling mandatory for imports
- Cannot contain added sugars or artificial ingredients
- Grade standards must appear on retail packages
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables:
- Country of origin required on all packages
- Size or grade information when applicable
- Variety name for specific products like apples
- Organic certification when claimed
Processed Foods:
- Ingredient listing in descending weight order
- Allergen declarations using prescribed names
- Nutrition facts table with serving size information
- Manufacturing location for domestic products
Special dietary foods require additional statements about intended use and nutritional modifications. These products cannot use standard nutrition facts table headings without proper authorization.
Regulatory and Language Compliance
Canadian food labels must comply with two key federal acts and meet strict bilingual requirements. The Safe Food for Canadians Act and Food and Drugs Act establish core labelling standards, while bilingual presentation rules ensure accessibility for all consumers.
Safe Food for Canadians Act and Food and Drugs Act
The Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) and Food and Drugs Act (FDA) form the legal foundation for all food labelling in Canada. These acts establish mandatory requirements that manufacturers must follow.
Health Canada develops the regulations under both acts. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enforces these rules through inspections and compliance checks.
The food labelling requirements checklist covers core obligations from both acts. This includes common names, net quantity declarations, ingredient lists, and allergen information.
Key regulatory areas include:
- Product identification and naming standards
- Nutritional information requirements
- Allergen declaration rules
- Date marking obligations
- Business name and address details
The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) and Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) provide specific technical details. Companies must review both sets of rules to ensure full compliance.
Non-compliance can result in product recalls, fines, or market removal. The CFIA takes enforcement action when products fail to meet regulatory standards.
Bilingual Labelling and Presentation
All mandatory label information must appear in both English and French. This requirement applies to most food products sold in Canada, with limited exemptions.
The bilingual requirements cover common names, ingredient lists, nutrition facts, and allergen statements. Business names and addresses may appear in one language only.
Presentation standards require:
- Sans serif fonts for readability
- Specific type heights based on package size
- Proper contrast between text and background
- Correct spacing and character alignment
Information must appear on one continuous surface without interruption. Labels cannot split required text across multiple panels or surfaces.
The nutrition facts table follows strict formatting rules. Font sizes, spacing, and layout specifications ensure consistent presentation across all products.
French translations must be accurate and complete. Direct word-for-word translations may not always meet regulatory standards for technical terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Canadian food labeling regulations involve specific nutritional requirements, bilingual compliance standards, and various exemptions based on product type and package size. Understanding enforcement mechanisms, origin labeling guidelines, and packaging standards helps food manufacturers navigate CFIA requirements effectively.
What specific nutritional information is required on Canadian food labels?
Canadian food labels must include a Nutrition Facts table with 13 core nutrients. The nutrition labeling requirements mandate calories, fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrates, fiber, sugars, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, and iron.
Serving sizes must align with regulated reference amounts and appear in household measures first. Metric equivalents follow in parentheses based on the food as sold.
Products with high levels of saturated fat, sugars, or sodium require front-of-package nutrition symbols. These symbols appear on the principal display panel unless the product qualifies for specific exemptions.
Small packages with available display surfaces under 15 cm² are exempt from nutrition tables. Products between 15-100 cm² may qualify for exemptions if they provide postal addresses or toll-free numbers.
How does Canada enforce bilingual labeling requirements for food products?
All mandatory label information must appear in both English and French on Canadian food products. The bilingual labeling requirements apply to common names, ingredient lists, nutrition facts, and allergen declarations.
The responsible person’s name and address may appear in one language only. This exemption applies specifically to the business information section of labels.
Ingredient lists must be identical in both languages. Allergen statements, phenylalanine warnings, and cross-contamination notices require bilingual presentation in the same order.
Net quantity declarations use bilingual symbols like ml, L, g, and kg. When units are written out completely, both languages must appear unless specific exemptions apply.
Are there any exemptions to food labeling regulations in Canada?
Several products qualify for labeling exemptions based on size, type, or sales method. Single-ingredient foods without additives may skip ingredient lists in certain circumstances.
Products sold from bulk at retail have different net quantity requirements. These items may use either metric or Canadian units instead of mandatory metric-only labeling.
Fresh fruits and vegetables sold individually typically avoid most labeling requirements. Pre-packaged fresh produce follows different rules than processed foods.
Foods with durable life exceeding 90 days don’t require best-before dates. Items packaged where sold at retail may use “packaged on” dates instead of best-before dating.
What are the guidelines for indicating country of origin on food labels in Canada?
Imported products must show Canadian business information grouped with geographic origin. Alternative options include “Imported by/importé par” or “Imported for/importé pour” statements.
Foreign business names and addresses may appear instead of Canadian information. This choice requires clear identification of the foreign entity’s principal place of business.
The business information appears on any label panel except solely on the bottom. Ornamental containers represent the only exception to this bottom-placement restriction.
Type height requirements mandate 1.6 mm minimum lettering. Packages with principal display surfaces of 10 cm² or less may use 0.8 mm minimum type height.
Can you outline the steps for ensuring compliance with the CFIA’s food labeling checklist?
The CFIA labeling requirements checklist serves as a self-assessment tool for core labeling compliance. Food manufacturers should verify common names appear on principal display panels in appropriate letter sizes.
Net quantity declarations require metric units in bold face type. The numerical portion must meet minimum type height requirements based on principal display surface size.
Ingredient lists need descending order by weight proportion. Priority allergens, gluten, and added sulphites require prescribed source names in ingredient lists or “contains” statements.
Date markings depend on durable life and packaging location. Products with 90-day or shorter shelf life need best-before dates unless sold from retail packaging areas.
What are the packaging material standards for food products in Canada?
Canadian food packaging must protect product integrity while displaying required label information clearly. Materials cannot interfere with nutrition facts table visibility or damage products during normal handling.
Labels must appear on continuous surfaces without intervening printed or graphic material. The only exception applies to specific bottom-placement cases outlined in regulations.
Print contrast requirements ensure readability across different lighting conditions. Sans serif fonts in regular or bold weights provide optimal character recognition for mandatory information.
Color specifications mandate appropriate background and text combinations for nutrition facts tables. These requirements prevent visual interference with consumer information access.
