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ARCHIVED Guidance for the Food Industry on Reducing Sodium in Processed Foods - Summary Table

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The proposed sales-weighted average levels apply to the sales-weighted average sodium for a company's products within the category. The maximum level applies to individual products within the category.

Note: Available on Health Canada's website is an interactive version of this summary table.

Guiding Benchmark Sodium Reduction Levels for Processed Foods: Summary Table
Food Category
Food Category Description
Numbers refer to the "Group ID"
in the Data Table (Appendix A)
2009-2010 Sales-Weighted Average
mg sodium per 100 g
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Sales-Weighted Average Level
mg sodium per 100 g
Sales-Weighted Average Level
mg sodium per 100 g
Dec 31, 2016
Sales-Weighted Average Level
mg sodium per 100 g
Dec 31, 2016
Maximum Level
mg sodium per 100 g
1. Bakery products
(Levels also apply to gluten free products)
1a. English muffins and raisin bread White or whole grain English muffins, crumpets, and raisin bread.
1.0122 and 1.0126 		373 340 300 260 400
1b. Pantry bread and rolls, bagels, croissants, and flatbreads Prepackaged white or whole grain sliced breads, bagels, croissants (includes frozen doughs as consumed), flatbreads (pita, Greek flatbread), pizza crusts, diet or low calorie breads, and pantry rolls and buns. Also includes par-baked bread and rolls.
1.0123, 1.0124, 1.0125, 1.0127, 1.0129, 1.0130, and 1.0142    		469 430 380 330 520
1c. Hearth bread Bread baked directly on the hearth or in a pan without sides for crispier crusts e.g. baguettes, crusted bread, artisan breads, rye bread, pumpernickel bread, and garlic bread. Includes breads with and without additions e.g. olives, onion and cheese. Also includes bread mixes and frozen dough as consumed.
1.0121 and 1.0141     		531 520 490 470 600
1d. Tortillas, wraps, and naan Refrigerated and shelf stable plain or flavoured tortillas, wraps or naan. Excludes pita (see 1b).
1.5301 and 1.5302		 698 650 600 550 760
1e. Pie dough and shells Refrigerated or frozen pie or tart shells, and dry mixes as consumed.  Excludes graham cracker crusts.
1.5701   		369 350 300 250 530
1f. Refrigerated dough Refrigerated fruit filled pastry, garlic bread, croissant, and dinner roll dough. Excludes refrigerated cookie dough (see 1j).
1.5714  		733 660 590 510 790
1g. Dry bread Melba toast, rusks, breadsticks, pita or baguette chips, and other crisp breads. Excludes breadcrumbs and croutons (see 1h).
1.6201		 733 650 570 480 860
1h. Breadcrumbs, croutons, and salad toppers Plain and seasoned breadcrumbs, croutons, and salad toppers e.g. fried chow mein noodles and wonton strips.
1.6301 and 1.6302 		916 840 760 670 1150
1i. Crackers Plain or flavoured crackers, sandwich crackers, puffed cakes, and graham crackers e.g. cheese crackers, soda crackers, and rice cakes. Excludes dry breads (see 1g).
1.6001		 859 770 690 600 930
1j. Cookies Filled and unfilled sweet cookies, biscuits, refrigerated dough, and dry mixes as consumed. Excludes infant and toddler cookies and biscuits (see 15b) and graham crackers (see 1i).
1.5101, 1.5102, 1.5103, 1.5104, 1.5105, 1.5106, 1.5107, and 1.5108		 363 320 280 240 390
1k. Baked desserts Cakes, cheesecakes, snack cakes, pies, fruit crisps, doughnuts (yeast and cake types), pastries, sweet buns, brownies and squares, muffins and quick breads, and dry mix products as consumed. Excludes non-yeast leavened cinnamon rolls (see 1p).
1.6501, 1.6502, 1.6503, 1.6504, 1.6505, 1.6506, 1.6507, 1.6509, 1.6510, 1.6511, and 1.6513		 349 310 270 230 400
1l. Toaster pastries Toaster pastries with fruit or other fillings.
1.5201		 360 350 330 320 400
1m. Granola and cereal type bars Granola bars (plain and coated), fruit filled bars, and muffin-type bars. Excludes sweet and salty bars (see 1n), and infant and toddler snack bars (see 15b).
1.5601    		276 240 210 180 340
1n. Sweet and salty bars Sweet and salty granola bars.
1.5603		 398 370 340 300 400
1o. Pancakes, waffles, and French toast Shelf stable, frozen, refrigerated, and dry mix products as consumed.
1.6604    		614 530 490 440 650
1p. Tea biscuits and scones Ready-made and dry mix tea biscuits, scones, and non-yeast leavened cinnamon rolls as consumed.
1.6603       		789 730 630 530 790
2. Breakfast cereals
2a. Ready-to-eat cereals Granola, muesli, shredded, flaked, puffed, extruded, and high-fibre compact cereals.
2.0301, 2.0302, 2.0303, 2.0304, 2.0305, 2.0306, and 2.0307  		558 490 430 360 630
2b. Hot instant cereals Plain and flavoured hot instant cereals (dry mix, as sold) e.g. oatmeal.
2.5101 and 2.5102		 539 460 400 340 600
3. Dairy products and substitutes
3a. Cottage cheese Plain and flavoured cottage cheese. Excludes ricotta.
3.0434  		375 350 330 280 410
3b. Cream cheese, cream cheese products, and soft unripened goat cheese Plain and flavoured (sweet or savoury) products. Includes cream cheese spread, cream cheese-style products, and soft unripened goat cheese. Excludes cream cheese based dips (see 11e).
3.0420, 3.0431, and 3.0437 		472 440 410 350 600
3c. Brie, Camembert, Cheddar, Swiss, Monterey Jack, Brick, Colby, Gouda, and Mozzarella Brie; Camembert; mild, medium and old Cheddar; Swiss; Monterey Jack; Brick; Colby; Gouda; Mozzarella (including pasta filata); string cheese; and shredded mixed cheese. Excludes fresh Mozzarella and cheese curds.
3.0401, 3.0412, 3.0435, and 3.0438 		720 710 700 670 770
3d. Hard cheese, grated and ungrated Shelf stable and refrigerated hard cheese e.g. Parmesan and Romano.
3.0436 		2293 2150 2010 1720 2530
3e.Feta and feta-style cheese Cheese sold in brine and cheese salted through a brine e.g. feta cheese.
3.0441       		1323 1270 1210 1100 1530
3f. Processed cheese and other cheese products Processed cheese products made from an emulsified blend of natural cheese. Includes spreads, blocks, and slices with or without added ingredients. Excludes string cheese (see 3c).
3.0503, 3.0511, and 3.0512  		1610 1520 1420 1240 1670
3g. Dairy-free cheese and spreads Soy, rice, and other dairy-free cheese slices, blocks, and spreads. 3.6101  616 560 510 460 1140
4. Fats and oils
4a. Salted butter and butter blends Plain and flavoured butter and butter blends. Excludes unsalted butter.
4.6101 		678 620 550 480 800
4b. Salted margarine Plain and flavoured margarine. Excludes unsalted margarine.
4.0611   		692 620 550 480 800
4c. Mayonnaise and mayonnaise type spreads and dressing Plain and flavoured mayonnaise and mayonnaise type spreads and dressings. Includes low fat and fat-free versions, and oil based sandwich spreads. Includes standardized salad dressing (see B.07.040 and B.07.042 of the Food and Drug Regulations).
4.0717 and 4.0718		 760 680 610 530 840
4d. Salad dressing and vinaigrette Refrigerated and shelf stable oil and vinegar based dressings, creamy dressings, and salad dressing mixes as consumed. Includes low fat and fat-free versions. Excludes standardized salad dressing (B.07.040 and B.07.042 of the Food and Drug Regulations) (see 4c). 4.0715 and 4.0716 987 890 790 690 1130
5.Fish products
5a. Canned tuna Shelf stable water and oil packed tuna. Excludes sauce packed tuna (see 5b).
5.0811 and 5.0827 		339 310 280 250 400
5b. Canned salmon and other canned fish and shellfish Canned salmon, water and oil packed fish, sauce packed fish, fish salad and shellfish e.g. sardines, mackerel, sauce packed tuna, shrimp, crab, clams, and smoked oysters. Includes retort packed products. Excludes water and oil packed tuna (see 5a) and anchovies.
5.5211 and 5.5212		 384 360 340 320 530
5c. Imitation and simulated seafood Surimi, crab flavoured pollock, imitation or simulated crab and lobster meat.
5.5101		 630 600 580 550 710
5d. Kippered fish Kippered fish e.g. kippered herring.
5.5208		 707 650 600 540 1030
5e. Frozen plain fish and seafood with added sodium phosphate Frozen plain fish and seafood with added sodium phosphate.
5.5301 and 5.5307   		285 260 240 220 570
5f. Fish and seafood: cakes or burgers, seasoned, and breaded or battered Fish and seafood: cakes and burgers, seasoned, with sauce or seasoning, breaded or battered, and stuffed fish.
5.5302, 5.5303, 5.5304, and 5.5308  		460 390 350 300 560
5g. Smoked fish Smoked fish e.g. smoked salmon and smoked rainbow trout. Excludes fresh smoked fish and salmon jerky (see 7k).
5.5306  		811 740 680 610 1000
5h. Fish and seafood mousse, spread, and dips Fish and seafood based mousse, spread, and dips.
5.5401		 573 510 460 400 620
6. Mixed dishes
6a. Canned chili Shelf stable vegetarian and meat chili.
6.5101     		303 280 250 220 330
6b. Canned stew and meatballs Shelf stable stew, meatballs, and curries.
6.5102   		503 470 440 410 630
6c. Shelf stable pasta, noodles, and rice or grains with sauce or seasoned Shelf stable pasta, noodles, and rice or grain mixes with sauce or seasonings, as consumed e.g. macaroni with cheese sauce, noodles in tomato sauce, and teriyaki noodles.
6.5103 and 6.5105		 368 330 300 270 440
6d. Stuffing mixes Shelf stable stuffing mixes as consumed.  Excludes refrigerated stuffing (see 6j or 6k).
6.5106     		530 520 510 500 630
6e. Baked and refried beans Shelf stable meat and vegetarian baked beans and refried beans.
6.5104		 335 310 280 250 370
6f. Pizza, pizza snacks, and frozen sandwiches Frozen and refrigerated pizza, pizza snacks, calzones, and frozen sandwiches with or without meat.  Excludes sandwich wraps and burritos (see 6j or 6k).
6.5701, 6.5702, 6.5703, and 6.5704    		589 520 460 400 610
6g. Frozen potatoes Plain and seasoned French fries, sweet potato fries, hash browns and potato patties.
6.6001 and 6.6003		 266 230 200 170 380
6h. Dry mashed or scalloped potatoes Dehydrated scalloped or mashed potatoes as consumed.
6.6004  		376 350 320 290 440
6i. Refrigerated prepared salads Refrigerated prepared salads e.g. potato salad, coleslaw, pasta salad, vegetable salad, bean salad, couscous, and rice salad.
6.6102, 6.6103, 6.6104, 6.6105, and 6.6107      		318 290 260 220 390
6j. Refrigerated or frozen appetizers/sides/entrées with a serving size less than 170 g Dinner entrées, meal sides, meal centers, and appetizers with a serving size less than 170 grams. Excludes all other items listed in Group.
6.6.5219		 480 440 390 350 500
6k. Refrigerated or frozen appetizers/sides/entrées with a serving size of 170 g or more Dinner entrées, meal sides, meal centers, and appetizers with a serving size of 170 grams or more. Excludes all other items listed in Group 6.
6.5220 and 6.5221		 288 260 240 220 340
7. Meat products
7a. Uncooked bacon - belly Uncooked belly bacon. Excludes back bacon (see 7o), bacon substitutes (see 7b), and pre-cooked shelf stable bacon (see 7p).
7.4101		 619 610 590 580 610
7b. Fully cooked breakfast strips and bacon substitutes Chicken, turkey, and other meat based breakfast strips. Excludes back bacon (see 7f) and pre-cooked shelf stable bacon (see 7p).
7.4102		 961 940 930 910 960
7c. Uncooked fresh sausage Uncooked breakfast and dinner sausages e.g. pork, chicken and turkey.
7.4201		 789 750 700 660 690
7d. Fully cooked sausage - smoked and unsmoked, and wieners Wieners (hot dogs) and smoked or unsmoked sausages with or without cheese.
7.4202		 990 940 880 830 870
7e. Pâtés and spreads Pâtés and spreads e.g. creton and liverwurst. Excludes fish pâtés and spreads (see 5h).
7.4303		 781 710 640 570 600
7f. Packaged deli meats - fully cooked Cooked deli meat e.g. smoked meat, pastrami, bologna, corned beef, ham, sliced chicken and turkey, luncheon meat loaf, roast beef, cooked pepperoni, and cooked back bacon.
7.4301		 1028 970 910 850 890
7g. Packaged deli meats - dry cured, fermented, no thermal process Dry cured, fermented deli meats which have not been thermally processed, e.g. salami and dried pepperoni. Excludes Prosciutto.
7.4302		 1592 1510 1420 1330 1400
7h. Canned chicken or turkey Shelf stable flakes and chunks of chicken or turkey.
7.5101		 554 520 480 450 470
7i. Canned meat Shelf stable meats e.g. Vienna sausage, flaked ham, corned beef, and luncheon meat.
7.5102		 865 840 820 790 830
7j. Meat sticks Shelf stable and refrigerated meat sticks e.g. pepperoni, turkey, beef, ham, and chicken.
7.5502		 1204 1160 1120 1080 1140
7k. Jerky Shelf stable jerky e.g. beef, turkey, and salmon.
7.5501		 2355 2200 2050 1900 2000
7l. Meat/Poultry marinated or flavoured and moisture enhanced, uncured Whole muscle cuts with sauce, marinade and/or dry rubs, and meat with added sodium phosphate.
7.7101, 7.7102, 7.7104, and 7.7105		 458 430 400 370 390
7m. Burgers, meatballs, meat loaf, and breaded meat and poultry Meat and poultry burgers, meatballs and meatloaf, and breaded meat products e.g. products with cheese, breaded and unbreaded burgers, strips, nuggets, chicken burgers, chicken balls, schnitzel, and cutlets.
7.7108, 7.7109, 7.7111, and 7.7112		 503 490 470 450 470
7n. Chicken wings Cooked and uncooked chicken wings in sauce, breaded or battered, and seasoned.
7.7114 and 7.7115		 689 650 610 570 600
7o. Preserved meat - uncooked Uncooked pickled, corned, cured or smoked meats (excludes dried and salted meats) e.g. cottage roll, corned beef, pork picnic, Wiltshire bacon, and uncooked back bacon. Excludes belly bacon (see 7a) and cooked back bacon (see 7f).
7.7119		 1084 1020 960 900 950
7p. Bacon bits and shelf stable pre-cooked bacon Shelf stable real and simulated bacon bits and bacon strips.
7.7201		 2514 2250 2020 1800 3000
8. Meat substitutes
8a. Seasoned tofu and tempeh Savoury, marinated, and seasoned tofu and tempeh. Excludes plain tofu, tofu based desserts and plain tempeh.
7.8104		 148 130 120 100 530
8b. Meat analogues Frozen and refrigerated meat analogs e.g. veggie patties, burgers, veggie dogs, meatballs, and deli style slices. Excludes dairy-free cheese (see 3g).
7.8102		 577 540 460 380 580
9. Soups
9a. Canned, dried, and refrigerated soups Canned condensed, ready-to-serve, and dried cream and broth-based soup, broth, stock, bouillon, and consommé as consumed. Includes fresh and instant oriental noodle soups.
9.1721, 9.1722, 9.1723, 9.1811, 9.1812, 9.1913, 9.1914, 9.5301, 9.5302, and 9.5201      		289 280 260 240 360
10. Snacks
10a. Chips, popcorn, and extruded corn snacks Potato, corn, tortilla, rice, and vegetable chips; extruded and puffed corn snacks; microwave and stovetop ready popcorn, and seasoned or candied ready to eat popcorn. Excludes unseasoned dry popcorn kernels.
10.5302, 10.5303, and 10.5304, and 10.5305		 676 580 490 400 880
10b. Pretzels and snack mixes Hard pretzels, candied pretzels, sesame sticks, and assorted snack mixes. Excludes trail mix.
10.5301		 1307 1140 970 790 1400
10c. Nuts, seeds, and kernels, seasoned and candied Seasoned, salted, and candied nuts, seeds, and kernels e.g. salted sunflower seeds, BBQ peanuts, and beer nuts. Excludes unsalted products.
10.5501		 519 460 390 320 550
10d. Pudding Refrigerated, shelf stable, and dry mix puddings as consumed. Includes soy pudding.
10.5601     		130 110 100 80 150
11. Sauces, dips, gravies and condiments
11a. Pasta sauce Shelf stable, refrigerated, frozen, and dry mix tomato-based pasta, pizza, and lasagna sauces, and cream or cheese sauces, as consumed.
11.8001 and 11.8002    		461 410 360 320 520
11b. Pesto Shelf stable and refrigerated pesto e.g. basil or sun-dried tomato pesto.
11.8003    		1094 990 880 770 1160
11c. Tomato sauce Shelf stable plain or flavoured tomato sauce. Excludes tomato-based pasta sauces (see 11a) and tomato paste (see 12a).
11.6501 		386 380 300 250 490
11d. Condiments Shelf stable condiments e.g. ketchup, chili sauce, seafood sauce, BBQ sauce, steak sauce, chutney, and mustard. Excludes relish (see 12d).
11.7001 and 11.7002		 1002 890 770 660 1400
11e. Gravy, cooking sauces, dips, and salsa. Shelf stable, refrigerated and dry mix gravy, cooking sauces (e.g. hollandaise, curry, and stir-fry sauces), salsa, and vegetable, legume, and dairy-based dips as consumed. Excludes curry paste (see 11i).
11.7003, 11.7004, and 11.7005  		637 570 480 400 670
11f. Sweet oriental sauces Sweet oriental sauces e.g. plum sauce, cherry sauce, pineapple sauce, and sweet and sour sauce. Excludes sweet chili sauce (see 11g).
11.7006  		158 140 120 100 350
11g. Soya and other oriental sauces Oriental sauces e.g. soya, teriyaki, black bean, fish, hoisin, peanut sauce, and sweet chili sauce. Excludes stir-fry sauce (see 11e), marinades (see 11h), and sweet oriental sauces (see 11f).
11.7007 		3475 3100 2700 2300 4300
11h. Marinades Shelf stable and dry marinade mixes as consumed.
11.7008   		2755 2440 2120 1800 3000
11i. Curry pastes Curry pastes e.g. Thai and Indian.
11.7009		 2023 1740 1520 1300 3300
12. Vegetables
12a. Tomato paste with additions Tomato paste with additions e.g. tomato paste with herbs or garlic. Excludes plain tomato paste with no added salt.
12.6215		 727 640 560 470 840
12b. Canned vegetables and legumes Canned vegetables and legumes e.g. potatoes, tomatoes, corn, peas, green beans, mushrooms, mixed vegetables, beets (plain and pickled), kidney beans, chickpeas, lentils, and bean salads.
12.6201, 12.6202, 12.6203, 12.6204, 12.6208, 12.6210, 12.6211, 12.6213, 12.6217, 12.6218, 12.6219, and 12.6224		 246 200 150 100 310
12c. Sour pickled vegetables Shelf stable sour pickled vegetables e.g. cucumbers, onions, peppers, sauerkraut, and other vegetables.
12.6209 and 12.6220		 891 810 720 640 1040
12d. Sweet pickled vegetables Shelf stable sweet pickled vegetables e.g. cucumbers, onions, relish, and other vegetables.
12.6221   		558 500 450 400 700
12e. Olives and sundried tomatoes Shelf stable un-stuffed olives, tapenade, and sundried tomatoes. Excludes stuffed olives (see 12f).
12.6207 and 12.6222  		1227 1160 1020 880 1800
12f. Stuffed olives Shelf stable stuffed olives.
12.6223		 1801 1750 1680 1600 2000
12g. Vegetable juice and cocktail Vegetable juice and vegetable juice cocktail e.g. tomato juice, carrot juice, and tomato and clam juice.  Excludes vegetable and fruit juice blends.
12.6216		 236 220 200 180 330
13. Nut butters
13a. Nut butters Nut butters e.g. peanut, almond, cashew, and soy. Excludes unsalted nut butters and tahini.
21.5101		 447 400 350 300 430
14. Seasoning mixes
14a. Breading, batter, and coatings Meat, fish, and vegetable breading or batter coatings.
14.5201      		3005 2650 2250 1840 3420
14b. Dry seasoning mixes Dry seasoning mixes for side and main dishes e.g. chili, stew, fajita, and salad seasoning. Includes popcorn seasoning. Excludes salts listed in Division 7 of the Food and Drug Regulations.
14.5701, 14.5706, 14.5707, and 14.5709		 7281 6500 5800 5100 9100
14c. Meat and fish seasoning Dry seasoning for meat and fish e.g. steak spice.
14.5705		 17 521 17 200 15 000 12 700 23 000
15. Infant and toddler foods
15a. Toddler mixed dishes Shelf stable and frozen toddler entrées.
19.5206		 215 210 200 190 240
15b. Cookies, biscuits and snack bars Infant and toddler cookies, biscuits and snack bars.
19.5201		 247 220 190 160 320
15c. Savoury snacks Infant and toddler seasoned extruded snacks.
19.5204		 714 610 500 400 540
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