Nutrition Labelling Toolkit

PDF (88 kb)

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The Nutrition Facts tables, illustrations and photographs used in this Toolkit are for illustrative purposes only. Nutrient values within the tables do not represent any particular food or product. Any resemblance of the pictures and illustrations to any products is co-incidental and does not represent any specific product found in the market place.

The Nutrition Labelling Toolkit provides guidance on the interpretation of the nutrition labelling requirements under the Food and Drug Regulations.

This guidance document is intended for use by inspectors of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. It may also be used by manufacturers, importers and distributors of food products, and consultants.

The information in this document is intended for instructional purposes only and does not in any way override the Food and Drugs Act or the Food and Drug Regulations. Where there is a conflict between the Food and Drugs Act and/or the Food and Drug Regulations and this Toolkit, the Act and/or Regulations will supersede the Toolkit.

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Table of Contents

• Table of Amendments

Note: To assist readers in finding the answers to specific questions, each section begins with an expanded and annotated Table of Contents.

• Section A - Introduction
  • Purpose of the Nutrition Labelling Toolkit
  • References and Abbreviations
  • Classes of Food for the Purposes of Nutrition Labelling
• Section B - What Products May Carry a Nutrition Facts Table?
  • When Do the Regulations Come Into Force?
  • What Foods Require a Nutrition Facts Table?
  • What Foods are Specifically Prohibited From Declaring a Nutrition Facts Table?
  • What Prepackaged Foods are Exempt From Mandatory Nutrition Labelling?
    • Losing the Exemption
• Section C - Contents of the Nutrition Facts Table
  • Serving Size
  • Core Nutrients
  • Declaration of Additional Nutrients
  • Declaring Nutrients Outside the Nutrition Facts Table
  • Tables
• Section D - Has the Correct Format Been Used?
  • Hierarchy of Formats: How to Select an Appropriate Nutrition Facts Table Format
  • Alternate Methods of Presentation
  • Retail Packaged Foods
  • Nutrition Facts Tables for Prepackaged Products
    • Standard, Horizontal and Linear Formats
    • Simplified Formats
    • Dual and Aggregate Formats
• Section E - Available Display Surface
  • Calculating the Available Display Surface
  • Mathematical Calculations for the Area of Some Geometric Forms
  • Guidance on Measuring ADS
  • Calculation Methods for Different Packaging Types
• Section F - Presentation of the NFT – Graphic and Technical Requirements
  • Definitions and Prescribed Elements
  • Colour
  • Type Requirements
  • Crowding Information and/or Narrowing the NFT
  • Adjusting the NFT Rectangle
  • Destruction of the NFT Upon Opening of the Package
  • Continuous Surfaces
  • Visibility Under Customary Conditions of Sale
  • Orientation of the NFT
• Section G - Nutrition Facts Tables for Children Under Two Years of Age
  • Presentation of Mandatory and Additional Information
  • When May These Formats Be Used?
  • Major Labelling Differences
  • Different NFT Formats for Foods for Children Under Two
• Section H - Foods for Use in Manufacturing Other Foods & Multi-Serving, Ready-to-Eat Prepackaged Products
  • Foods for Use in Manufacturing Other Goods
  • Multiple-Serving, Ready-to-Eat Prepackaged Products Served in a Commercial Enterprise
• Section I - Glossary of Terms
• Section J - Nutrition Labelling Evaluation Standard
  • J-1: Evaluation Standard for the Manufacturing Process
  • J-2: Evaluation Standard for the Label
• Section K - Tools and Templates
  • Checklist for the Nutrition Facts Table (NFT)
    • Nutrition Facts Table: Steps in Conducting an Evaluation
  • What Foods May Carry a NFT
    • Retail Food Tables
  • Is the NFT Format Choice Suitable for the Product?
    • When May the Different Formats Be Used?
  • Contents of the NFT
    • Serving Size
      • Reference Amounts [Schedule M] and Serving Sizes
    • Nutrients
      • Reference Tables (Daily Values, Alternate Expressions)
        • Table C3: Mandatory Nutrient Information [B.01.402]
        • Table C4: Additional Information with a Reference Amount
        • Table C5: Additional Information [B.01.402]
        • Table C6: Additional Vitamin and Mineral Nutrients [B.01.402]
      • French Reference Tables (Daily Values, Alternate Expressions) Tables C3, C4, C5, C6
    • Abbreviations and Symbols in the Nutrition Facts Table
  • Rounding
    • Table C1: Mandatory Nutrient Information – Rounding
    • Table C2: Additional Nutrient Information – Rounding
  • Has the Correct Format and Version (Size) Been Chosen?
    • Decision Trees for the NFT Format Families
    • Evaluating the Format:
  • Has the Correct Version Been Used?
    • Calculating the Available Display Surface (ADS)
      • Table E1: Definition of Available Display Surface (ADS)
      • Table E2: Summary – Guidance on Measuring ADS
      • Table E3: Summary – Calculating ADS for Different Packaging Types
    • Notes on Measurement and the Use of Templates
    • Type Height
    • Tables for Each Format (Schedule L)
  • Other Tables
    • Weighted Recommended Nutrient Intakes
    • Table H1: Foods for Use in Manufacturing Other Foods – Vitamin and Mineral Declarations
    • Reference Table for Nutrient Content Claims
  • K-1: Templates

Next page: Section A