HomeHome > > FoodFood > > LabellingLabelling > > Guide to Food Labelling and AdvertisingGuide to Food Labelling and Advertising

Share this pageShare this pageGuide to Food Labelling andGuide to Food Labelling andAdvertisingAdvertising

AcknowledgementAcknowledgement

Notice for Upcoming UpdatesNotice for Upcoming Updates Based on the results of a 2010 web questionnaire, the Based on the results of a 2010 web questionnaire, the CFIACFIA is revising and consolidating its food labelling and advertising web pages to is revising and consolidating its food labelling and advertising web pages tomake them more user-friendly and comprehensive.make them more user-friendly and comprehensive.

Contributions of Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada officers and other experts who provided input to this document areContributions of Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada officers and other experts who provided input to this document aregratefully acknowledged.gratefully acknowledged.

Information found in the Information found in the Guide to Food Labelling and AdvertisingGuide to Food Labelling and Advertising is provided free of charge to the public. It may be reused or is provided free of charge to the public. It may be reused orreproduced provided that it is:reproduced provided that it is:

accurately reproduced;accurately reproduced;accompanied by the date of issue, or in the case of an amended section, the date of the most recent amendment appearing at theaccompanied by the date of issue, or in the case of an amended section, the date of the most recent amendment appearing at thebottom of the page; andbottom of the page; andthe source is credited.the source is credited.

Persons using this information agree to save harmless Her Majesty in right of Canada and all her representatives against any claimPersons using this information agree to save harmless Her Majesty in right of Canada and all her representatives against any claimresulting from its use.resulting from its use.

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

Chapter 1Chapter 1

IntroductionIntroduction1.1 Reason for the 1.1 Reason for the GuideGuide1.2 Legislative Framework: Key Acts and Regulations1.2 Legislative Framework: Key Acts and Regulations1.3 Other Relevant Federal Legislation1.3 Other Relevant Federal Legislation1.4 Purpose of Food Labelling1.4 Purpose of Food Labelling1.5 Food Advertising Responsibilities1.5 Food Advertising Responsibilities1.6 Sources of Additional Information on Labelling and Claims1.6 Sources of Additional Information on Labelling and Claims

Chapter 2Chapter 2

Basic Labelling RequirementsBasic Labelling Requirements2.1 Definitions2.1 Definitions2.2 General Labelling Requirements2.2 General Labelling Requirements2.3 Foods Requiring a Label2.3 Foods Requiring a Label2.4 Bilingual Requirements2.4 Bilingual Requirements2.5 Common Name2.5 Common Name2.6 Net Quantity2.6 Net Quantity2.7 Name and Address2.7 Name and Address2.8 List of Ingredients2.8 List of Ingredients2.9 Nutrition Facts Table2.9 Nutrition Facts Table2.10 Artificial Flavours2.10 Artificial Flavours2.11 Durable Life Date2.11 Durable Life Date2.12 Previously Frozen2.12 Previously Frozen2.13 Standard Container Sizes2.13 Standard Container Sizes2.14 Other Mandatory Information2.14 Other Mandatory Information2.15 Labels of Shipping Containers2.15 Labels of Shipping Containers2.16 Test Market Foods2.16 Test Market Foods2.17 Temporary Marketing Authorization Letter2.17 Temporary Marketing Authorization Letter2.18 Interim Marketing Authorization2.18 Interim Marketing AuthorizationAnnex 2-1 Mandatory Common Names of Ingredients and ComponentsAnnex 2-1 Mandatory Common Names of Ingredients and ComponentsAnnex 2-2 Class Names for IngredientsAnnex 2-2 Class Names for IngredientsAnnex 2-3 Ingredients Exempt from Component DeclarationAnnex 2-3 Ingredients Exempt from Component DeclarationAnnex 2-4 Component DeclarationsAnnex 2-4 Component Declarations

Chapter 3Chapter 3

Advertising RequirementsAdvertising Requirements3.1 General Principles3.1 General Principles

Canadian Food Inspection AgencyCanadian Food Inspection Agency

3.2 Common Names3.2 Common Names3.3 Impressions3.3 Impressions3.4 Avoiding Misleading Description3.4 Avoiding Misleading Description3.5 Supporting References3.5 Supporting References3.6 Endorsements, Awards and Seals of Approval3.6 Endorsements, Awards and Seals of Approval3.7 Using Comparisons Carefully3.7 Using Comparisons Carefully3.8 Appropriated or Inferred Claims3.8 Appropriated or Inferred Claims3.9 Language Requirements3.9 Language Requirements3.10 Net Contents3.10 Net Contents3.11 Labels in Advertisements3.11 Labels in Advertisements3.12 Advertisements for Bulk Beef, Veal, Pork and Lamb3.12 Advertisements for Bulk Beef, Veal, Pork and Lamb3.13 Educational Advertising3.13 Educational Advertising3.14 Broadcast Advertising3.14 Broadcast Advertising

Chapter 4Chapter 4

Composition, Quality, Quantity and Origin ClaimsComposition, Quality, Quantity and Origin Claims4.1 General Impressions4.1 General Impressions4.2 Composition and Quality - Names of Foods4.2 Composition and Quality - Names of Foods4.3 Negative Claims Pertaining to the Absence or Non-Addition of a Substance4.3 Negative Claims Pertaining to the Absence or Non-Addition of a Substance4.4 Guarantees4.4 Guarantees4.5 Fresh4.5 Fresh4.6 Homemade4.6 Homemade4.7 Nature, Natural4.7 Nature, Natural4.8 Organic4.8 Organic4.9 Novel Foods Produced Through Genetic Modification4.9 Novel Foods Produced Through Genetic Modification4.10 Pure, 100% Pure, 100%, All4.10 Pure, 100% Pure, 100%, All4.11 Entirely, Completely, Absolutely4.11 Entirely, Completely, Absolutely4.12 True, Real, Genuine4.12 True, Real, Genuine4.13 Imitations, Substitutes4.13 Imitations, Substitutes4.14 Concentrated, Concentrate, Condensed, Strength, Reconstituted4.14 Concentrated, Concentrate, Condensed, Strength, Reconstituted4.15 Claims Regarding Grades4.15 Claims Regarding Grades4.16 Kosher Foods4.16 Kosher Foods4.17 Meals, Meal Replacements, Instant Breakfast4.17 Meals, Meal Replacements, Instant Breakfast4.18 Quantity: Net Contents4.18 Quantity: Net Contents4.19 Product of Canada, Made in Canada4.19 Product of Canada, Made in Canada4.20 Imported4.20 Imported

Chapter 5Chapter 5

Nutrition LabellingNutrition Labelling5.1 Purpose of the Nutrition Labelling Regulations5.1 Purpose of the Nutrition Labelling Regulations5.2 Transitional Period5.2 Transitional Period5.3 Exemptions5.3 Exemptions5.4 Information in the Nutrition Facts Table5.4 Information in the Nutrition Facts Table5.5 Displaying the Nutrition Facts Table5.5 Displaying the Nutrition Facts Table5.6 Formats for the Nutrition Facts Table5.6 Formats for the Nutrition Facts Table5.7 Compendium of Templates for Nutrition Facts Tables5.7 Compendium of Templates for Nutrition Facts Tables5.8 Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Formats5.8 Step-by-Step Guide to Using the Formats5.9 Format Hierarchy Summary5.9 Format Hierarchy Summary5.10 Small Packages5.10 Small Packages5.11 Tags5.11 Tags5.12 Ornamental Containers5.12 Ornamental Containers5.13 Foods Sold Only in the Retail Establishment Where Packaged5.13 Foods Sold Only in the Retail Establishment Where Packaged5.14 Foods for Commercial or Industrial Enterprises or Institutions5.14 Foods for Commercial or Industrial Enterprises or Institutions5.15 Foods for Use in Manufacturing Other Foods5.15 Foods for Use in Manufacturing Other Foods5.16 Foods Intended Solely for Children Under Two Years of Age5.16 Foods Intended Solely for Children Under Two Years of Age5.17 Nutrition Facts Information from Another Country5.17 Nutrition Facts Information from Another Country5.18 Other Languages in the Nutrition Facts Table5.18 Other Languages in the Nutrition Facts Table

Chapter 6Chapter 6

The Elements Within the Nutrition Facts TableThe Elements Within the Nutrition Facts Table6.1 Presentation of Information Within the Table6.1 Presentation of Information Within the Table6.2 Reference Amounts and Serving Size6.2 Reference Amounts and Serving Size6.3 Daily Intake6.3 Daily Intake6.4 Energy6.4 Energy6.5 Fat and Fatty Acids: Saturates, 6.5 Fat and Fatty Acids: Saturates, TransTrans, Polyunsaturates, Omega-6 Polyunsaturates, Omega-3, Polyunsaturates, Omega-6 Polyunsaturates, Omega-3Polyunsaturates, MonounsaturatesPolyunsaturates, Monounsaturates6.6 Sodium6.6 Sodium6.7 Potassium6.7 Potassium6.8 Carbohydrates6.8 Carbohydrates6.9 Protein6.9 Protein

6.10 Vitamins and Mineral Nutrients6.10 Vitamins and Mineral Nutrients6.11 Compliance Test to Assess the Accuracy of Nutrient Values6.11 Compliance Test to Assess the Accuracy of Nutrient Values

Chapter 7Chapter 7

Nutrient Content ClaimsNutrient Content Claims7.1 Introduction7.1 Introduction7.2 Transition Period7.2 Transition Period7.3 Permitted Nutrient Content References7.3 Permitted Nutrient Content References7.4 Quantitative Declarations Outside the Nutrition Facts Table7.4 Quantitative Declarations Outside the Nutrition Facts Table7.5 Making Nutrient Content Claims: General Requirements7.5 Making Nutrient Content Claims: General Requirements7.6 Altering the Wording of Permitted Nutrient Content Claims7.6 Altering the Wording of Permitted Nutrient Content Claims7.7 Nutrient Content Claims for Vitamins and Minerals: General Requirements7.7 Nutrient Content Claims for Vitamins and Minerals: General Requirements7.8 Nutrient Content Claims on Foods Exempted or Prohibited from Showing a Nutrition Facts Table7.8 Nutrient Content Claims on Foods Exempted or Prohibited from Showing a Nutrition Facts Table7.9 Comparative Claims7.9 Comparative Claims7.10 "Light" Claims7.10 "Light" Claims7.11 Advertising Requirements for Nutrient Content Claims7.11 Advertising Requirements for Nutrient Content Claims7.12 Nutrient Content Claims Made i