Canadian Nutrient File
The Canadian Nutrient File (CNF) is Health Canada's bilingual food composition database that reports nutrient amounts in foods commonly consumed in Canada. It includes data on 5993 foods.
On this page
- Data in the Canadian Nutrient File
- Canadian Nutrient File 2026 Users' Guide
- Canadian Nutrient File 2026 Database Structure and File Content Description
- Help us improve the Canadian Nutrient File
Data in the Canadian Nutrient File
Use the CNF to find detailed values for up to 173 nutrients including:
- fat,
- energy,
- protein,
- vitamins,
- minerals.
The foods listed in the CNF provide average nutritional values for a range of products. It does not include brand-specific information unless mentioned in the description.
Information in the database supports Health Canada's nutrition surveys, which inform nutrition policies, guidelines and regulations.
The CNF is published as relational files you can download in Excel-compatible CSV format. To view and use these files, you will need a database or a spreadsheet program that can handle large files.
Download the 2026 Canadian Nutrient File
The 2015 CNF online remains accessible as an interim measure while we work toward providing a more user-friendly way to access the CNF 2026 dataset.
Canadian Nutrient File 2026 Users' Guide
A users' guide is available to help you use the CNF effectively. This guide provides information on:
- specific nutrients;
- how to use the CNF data appropriately and;
- background on the sources and quality of the data.
Download the document "Canadian nutrient file: users' guide 2026"
Canadian Nutrient File 2026 Database Structure and File Content Description
A database structure and file content description document is also available with the publication of the CNF 2026 relational files. This document helps you:
- link relational files;
- understand fields in the database.
Download the document "Canadian nutrient file: database structure and file content description 2026".
Help us improve the Canadian Nutrient File
Let us know if you find issues in the Canadian Nutrient File. Issues may include:
- technical glitches
- data entry mistakes
- inaccuracies in nutrient sources
You can contact the Canadian Nutrient file team at cnf.users@hc-sc.gc.ca