Health Claims

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A health claim is any representation in labelling or advertising that states, suggests, or implies that a relationship exists between consumption of a food, or an ingredient in the food, and health. Health claims may be stated explicitly with words, or implied through symbols, graphics, logos or other means such as a name, trade mark or seal of approval. While the term "health claim" is not formally defined in food regulations in Canada, health claims have been classed into the following categories:

• Disease risk reduction and therapeutic claims
• Function claims; and
  • Nutrient function claims
• Probiotic claims
• General health claims.

Information related to this subject

• General Principles for Health Claims
  • Avoiding Misleading Claims
  • Industry's Responsibility for Health Claims That Are Truthful and Not Misleading
  • Guidance Document for Preparing a Submission for Food Health Claims (Health Canada)
• In order to understand how health claims are regulated in Canada, one must first examine the definitions for a food, drug and natural health product
  • Schedule 1 (Subsection 1(1)) - Included Natural Health Product Substances
  • Schedule 2 (Subsection 1(1)) - Excluded Natural Health Product Substances
  • Classification of Products at the Food-Natural Health Product Interface: Products in Food Formats (Health Canada)
• Foods advertised for obesity, weight loss, weight reduction and maintenance
  • Obesity: Diet Plans
  • Foods Represented for Use in Weight Maintenance
• In certain situations, other information may be provided about nutrition, diet and disease

Related Information

• Compatibility with International Policy
• References
• Schedule A Diseases from the Food and Drugs Act