Canada is introducing a front-of-package nutrition label system to highlight foods high in saturated fat, sugar, and sodium; and other ingredients that could impact consumers’ health.
The new front-of-package nutrition symbol features a magnifying glass and text to draw attention to foods high in these ingredients to help consumers make more informed product selections as they shop for groceries. Health Canada, Canada’s health agency, which announced the new labeling system, noted that the symbol must be displayed on the front of packaged foods. Manufacturers have until Jan. 1, 2026, to change their labels to comply with the requirement.
Foods that contribute 15% or more of the daily value of sodium, sugar or saturated fat will be required to display the new front-of-package nutrition label. For entrees with a serving size greater than 200g, the threshold rises to 30% or more of daily value for sodium, sugars, or saturated fat. Foods consumed in small quantities of less than 30g will be subject to a limit of 10% or more of daily value for sodium, sugar, or saturated fat. Fresh foods such as vegetables, fruit, meat, and fish, as well as some milk products, will not need to carry the magnifying glass symbol.
“The new front-of-package labeling regulations will allow consumers to make informed decisions about their food. It also recognizes the nutritional value of certain foods that are either unprocessed or barely processed, such as calcium in dairy products,” according to Marie-Claude Bibeau, Canada’s minister of agriculture and agri-food. “Processors who wish to do so have a few years to review their processes and, in some cases, improve their recipes.”