Food labelling is mandatory in Canada. The framework set out by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) applies to foods imported into, manufactured in and/or sold in Canada. The Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act (CPLA) lays out a uniform method for labelling and packaging pre-packaged consumer goods sold at retail markets.

The goal of this act is to prevent fraudulent sales of products and provide mandatory label information that allows consumers to make informed decisions when purchasing food products. This act also clearly states that metric units of measurement and bilingual labelling are required.

Importance of Food Labelling:

Food labels provide basic product information, which includes the common name, list of ingredients, net quantity, shelf life date, grade/quality, country of origin, and the name and address of the manufacturer, dealer, or importer. Consumers get health, safety, and nutrition information, including instructions for safe storage and handling; nutrition information, such as the quantity of fats, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals present per serving of the stated size of the food; and specific information on products for special dietary use. A food label is also a means to market, promote and advertise food products with promotional information, label vignettes, and label claims, such as cholesterol-free, low-fat, product of Canada, no preservatives added, etc. Today’s health-conscious consumers want to make informed food choices, and food labels help them make them.

What information does a food label contain?

The food law mandates the display of the following information for pre-packaged food items.

• Nutrition facts table
• Ingredient list

Nutrition claims are optional.

What does the nutrition facts table contain?

The nutrition facts table has to contain calories, serving size, % daily value (DV) and 13 core nutrients (fat, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fibre, sugars, protein, vitamin D, calcium, and Iron). Based on the serving size, the information in the nutrition facts table is prepared.

What does the ingredient list have to contain?

The ingredient list has to contain all ingredients of a food, in order by their weight with the heaviest ingredient listed first and the lightest ingredient listed last. This list is useful for knowing what the product is made of and whether it contains allergens.

What does the nutrition claims section have to show?

When nutritional claims or health claims are made in label vignettes or promotional labels, food manufacturers need to substantiate their claims by showing the source (such as the source of calcium), low (such as low fat), reduced (such as calorie reduced), and so on.

Do all foods have to contain food labels?

No, all foods don’t need to contain labels. Some examples include fresh fruits and vegetables, foods prepared or processed at the store, and foods that contain minimal nutrients, such as tea. In Canada, the nutrition facts table is not mandatory for restaurants to attach to their products.

Do food manufacturers make food labels manually?

There are various ways of making food labels, namely by hand, lab testing methods, and using an ingredient database through an analysis software. Manual food labelling is arduous, time-consuming and expensive. The same applies to lab testing methods, which may also become expensive when trying different formulations. In sheer contrast, implementing nutrition food labelling software may offer advantages over other methods.

In Conclusion:

The objective of food labelling is clear. With it, food manufacturers can help consumers make informed choices on the foods they consume. In many industries in Canada, dietitians assist consumers with healthy meal planning, cooking, and reading food labels. Food regulations also require food manufacturers to make their food label fonts legible and to display nutrition information on labels accurately.

If you are a food manufacturer and struggle to calculate nutrient values of a food, build custom food labels or add custom ingredients as needed, try Nutritionist Pro™ – an online nutrient analysis application built with all the great features necessary for quicker and easier food labels while staying compliant with Canadian food regulations.

Go to www.nutritionistpro.com for additional details. For questions, please email: [email protected]