The Nutrition Facts table appears on food labels with a consistent look, making it easy to find and easy to read. The labeling regulations, introduced in 2003, also updated the requirements of over 40 nutrient-content claims and allowed five health claims on diet-health relationships to be used on food labels or in advertisements.
Together, the Nutrition Facts table, the nutrition claims and the ingredient list provide Canadians with more information to make informed food choices
REGULATIONS
What are the nutrition labeling regulations?
The regulations stipulate the requirements for three different types of nutrition information on food labels. |
Nutrition Facts table: the regulations make the Nutrition Facts table mandatory on prepackaged foods with some exemptions. The Nutrition Facts table has a consistent format and provides information on calories and 13 nutrients: fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fibre, sugars, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron.
Nutrient content claims: the regulations update the past requirements based on current science and also introduce new claims (e.g., free of trans fat).
 Diet-related health claims: the regulations permit four claims for foods that are suitable for diets that reduce risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, some types of cancer, and osteoporosis |
