Language selection

Search

Nutrient content claims: reference information

On this page

Foods to which vitamins, mineral nutrients and amino acids may or must be added [D.03.002, FDR]

Note: In column 2 of this table, "mandatory" refers to nutrients that must be present in the food at levels specified in the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR). For some mandatory requirements, nutrients may not have to be added to achieve the levels identified in the regulations. "Voluntary" refers to nutrients that may be added to the products listed, also subject to levels specified in the FDR. Column 3, "FDR reference", refers to the sections of the regulations where nutrient levels and other specific requirements are found.

Foods to which vitamins, mineral nutrients and amino acids may or must be added
Column 1
Food
Column 2
Vitamin, mineral nutrient or amino acid
Column 3
FDR reference
1. Breakfast cereals Voluntary: Thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, pantothenic acid, magnesium, iron, zinc B.13.060
2. Fruit nectars, vegetable drinks, bases and mixes for vegetable drinks and a mixture of vegetable juices Voluntary: Vitamin C B.11.134
D.01.009 to
D.01.011
2.1 Fruit flavoured drinks that meet all the requirements of B.11.150, FDR Mandatory: Vitamin C
Voluntary: Folic acid, thiamine, iron, potassium
B.11.150
2.2 Bases, concentrates and mixes that are used for making fruit flavoured drinks and meet all the requirements of B.11.151, FDR Mandatory: Vitamin C
Voluntary: Folic acid, thiamine, iron, potassium
B.11.151
3. Infant cereal products Voluntary: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin or niacinamide, calcium, phosphorus, iron, iodine D.01.010
D.01.011
D.02.009
4. Margarine Mandatory: Vitamin A, vitamin D
Voluntary: Alpha-tocopherol
B.09.016
D.01.011
Other similar substitutes for butter Voluntary: Vitamin A, vitamin D, alpha-tocopherol D.01.009
D.01.011
5. Alimentary pastes Voluntary: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin or niacinamide, folic acid, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, iron, magnesium B.13.052 (1)
"Enriched" alimentary pastes Mandatory: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, iron
Voluntary: Pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, magnesium
B.13.052 (2)
6. Human milk fortifiers, infant formulas and formulated liquid diets Vitamins – Alpha-tocopherol, biotin, choline, d-pantothenic acid, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K
Minerals – calcium, chloride, chromium, copper, iodide, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, zinc
Amino acids – alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, hydroxyproline, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, taurine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine (to improve the quality of the protein)
Also – other nutritional substances at the same levels found in human milk (for infant formula)
B.25.052
B.25.054
B.24.101
B.24.102
6.1 Food represented for use in a very low-energy diet Mandatory: Vitamins – Alpha-tocopherol, biotin, d-pantothenic acid, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K
Minerals – Calcium, chloride, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, zinc
B.24.303
D.01.011
7. Flavoured beverage mixes and bases recommended for addition to milk Voluntary: Vitamin A, thiamine, niacin or niacinamide, vitamin C, iron D.01.009 to
D.01.011
D.02.009
8. Simulated meat products, simulated poultry meat products, meat product extenders and poultry product extenders Mandatory: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, d-pantothenic acid, folic acid, vitamin B12, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper
Amino acids – Histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine
B.14.073
B.14.085 to
B.14.090
B.22.027
B.22.029
D.01.011
9. Meal replacements and nutritional supplements Mandatory: Vitamins – alpha-tocopherol, biotin, d-pantothenic acid, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D
Minerals – calcium, chloride, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, zinc
B.24.200
B.24.201
9.1 Ready breakfast, instant breakfast and other similar breakfast replacement foods however described Mandatory: Vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin or niacinamide, vitamin C, iron B.01.053
D.01.009
D.01.011
10. Milk, milk powder, sterilized milk, (naming the flavour) milk Mandatory: Vitamin D B.08.003
B.08.007
B.08.013
B.08.016
Condensed milk Voluntary: Vitamin D B.08.009
D.01.009
D.01.011
11. Skim milk with added milk solids, partly skimmed milk with added milk solids, (naming the flavour) skim milk, (naming the flavour) partly skimmed milk, (naming the flavour) skim milk with added milk solids, (naming the flavour) partly skimmed milk with added milk solids, skim milk, partly skimmed milk, skim milk powder Mandatory: Vitamin A, vitamin D B.08.004
B.08.005
B.08.014
B.08.017
B.08.018
B.08.019
B.08.020
B.08.023
B.08.026
12. Evaporated milk Mandatory: Vitamin C, vitamin D B.08.010
13. Evaporated skim milk, concentrated skim milk, evaporated partly skim milk, concentrated partly skimmed milk Mandatory: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D B.08.011
B.08.012
14. Apple juice, reconstituted apple juice, grape juice, reconstituted grape juice, pineapple juice, reconstituted pineapple juice, apple and (naming the fruit) juice as described in B.11.132, concentrated fruit juice except frozen concentrated orange juice Voluntary: Vitamin C B.11.123
B.11.124
B.11.128A
B.11.130
B.11.132
B.11.133
D.01.009 to
D.01.011
15. Flour, white flour, enriched flour or enriched white flour Mandatory: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, iron
Voluntary: Vitamin B6, d-pantothenic acid, calcium, magnesium
B.13.001
16. Repealed
17. Table salt, table salt substitutes Mandatory: Iodine B.17.003
18. Dehydrated potatoes Voluntary: Vitamin C D.01.009
D.01.011
19. Products simulating whole egg Mandatory: Vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin or niacinamide, vitamin B6, d-pantothenic acid, folic acid, vitamin B12, alpha-tocopherol, calcium, iron, zinc, potassium B.22.032
D.01.011
20. Repealed
21. Goat's milk, goat's milk powder Voluntary: Vitamin D B.08.029 (1)
22. Partly skimmed goat's milk, skimmed goat's milk, partly skimmed goat's milk powder, skimmed goat's milk powder Voluntary: Vitamins A and D B.08.029 (2)
23. Evaporated goat's milk Voluntary: Vitamins C, D, folic acid B.08.029 (3)
24. Evaporated partly skimmed goat's milk, evaporated skimmed goat's milk Voluntary: Vitamins A, C, D, folic acid B.08.029 (4)
25. Pre-cooked rice as defined in B.13.010.1(1), FDR Voluntary: Thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, pantothenic acid, iron B.13.010 (1)
26. Mineral water, spring water, water in sealed containers, prepackaged ice Voluntary: Fluorine B.12.001
B.12.004
B.12.005
27. Liquid whole egg, dried whole egg, frozen whole egg, liquid yolk, dried yolk, frozen yolk, liquid egg white (liquid albumen), dried egg white (dried albumen), liquid whole egg mix, dried whole egg mix, frozen whole egg mix, liquid yolk mix, dried yolk mix, frozen yolk mix Mandatory if there is a reduction in the vitamin and/or mineral content: Vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folacin, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc B.22.038

In the past, Interim marketing authorizations (IMA) had been issued by Health Canada to permit the addition of vitamins and minerals to certain foods. The IMA process bridged the time between the completion of the scientific evaluation supporting certain amendments (for example, expansion of the list of foods to which certain vitamins and mineral nutrients may be added) and publication of the approved amendments in the Canada Gazette, Part II.

As of October 25, 2012, Health Canada no longer issues IMAs as the ability to do so was replaced in the Food and Drugs Act with the Marketing Authorization (MA) authority. In collaboration with the CFIA, Health Canada therefore developed an interim policy position on the use of expired IMAs related to food fortification. The complete details of this policy can be found in the Interim policy on the use of expired interim marketing authorizations related to food fortification.

Nutrient content claim examples

Nutrient content claim examples – fat claims

Example – "Low in Fat"

A package of muffins carries the claim "Low in Fat". The muffins contain 3 g of fat per serving of stated size of 75 g. Is the claim permissible?

Item 12 of the Table of Permitted Nutrient Content Statements and Claims states the conditions for "Low in Fat" claims.

Condition: The food must contain 3 g or less of fat per reference amount (in this case, 110 g according to Item A.9, Bakery Products, Column 2, Table of Reference Amounts for Foods) and per serving of stated size (in this case, 75 g) and, if the reference amount is 30 g or 30 mL or less, per 50 g.

The muffins meet the claim requirement for serving of stated size, but they must also meet the requirement for reference amount for the claim to be permissible.

To calculate the fat per reference amount of 110 g:

(3 g fat ÷ 75 g) = (x g fat ÷ 110 g)

75x = 330

x = 4.4 g fat in the reference amount

The muffins do not meet the claim requirement for the reference amount. The claim is therefore not acceptable.

Example – "% Fat-Free"

A label states that an uncooked pork sausage with a serving of stated size of 75 g is 95% fat-free. Is the claim acceptable?

In order to make a % fat-free claim, the food must first meet the conditions for "low in fat" (3 g or less of fat per reference amount and per serving of stated size). At 5% fat (95% fat-free), the sausage contains: 0.05 × 75 g = 3.75 g of fat per serving of stated size and per reference amount (which is also 75 g according to Item L.5, Meat, Poultry, Their Products and Substitutes, Column 2, Table of Reference Amounts for Foods). The claim is therefore not acceptable.

Example – "% less fat" (comparative claim)

The following statement appears on the label of a package of chicken breakfast strips: "84% less fat in 30 g vs. 54 g of our regular bacon". The chicken breakfast strips contain 3.5 g of fat per 30 g and the regular bacon contains 22 g of fat per 54 g. Is it acceptable?

The reference amount for uncooked bacon is 54 g (Item L.1, Meat, Poultry, Their Products and Substitutes, Column 2, Table of Reference Amounts for Foods) while that of uncooked chicken breakfast strips is 30 g (Item L.2, Meat, Poultry, Their Products and Substitutes, Column 2, Table of Reference Amounts for Foods). The percent reduction is calculated using the difference in the nutrient (fat) content found in the reference amounts of each food.

((22g − 3.5g) ÷ 22g) × 100 = 84%

Therefore, the claim is acceptable.

Nutrient content claim example – fibre claims

Example – High source of fibre

The following claim appears on a box of 6 muffins: "High source of wheat bran and oat bran". Each muffin contains 1.5 g of fibre from wheat bran and 3.5 g of fibre from oat bran per serving of stated size of 90 g. The reference amount is 110 g (Item A.9, Bakery Products, Column 2, Table of Reference Amounts for Foods). Is the claim acceptable?

The claim is not acceptable since there must be at least 4 g of fibre from wheat and oat independently (item 42 of the Table of Permitted Nutrient Content Statements and Claims). The claim "high source of fibre" could be made instead since there is more than 4 g of fibre (total) per reference amount and per serving of stated size.

Date modified: