Interim policy statements on certain front-of-package nutrition labelling requirements

Introduction

Health Canada is responsible for setting standards and providing advice and information on the safety and nutritional value of foods, including nutrition labelling requirements.

Prepackaged foods sold in Canada are subject to the provisions of the Safe Food for Canadians Act and the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, as well as those of the Food and Drugs Act and the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR). These provisions include a requirement for most prepackaged foods to carry a front-of-package (FOP) nutrition symbol when they contain nutrients of public health concern (saturated fat, sugars and/or sodium) at or above specified thresholds. Some stakeholders submitted comments on two food categories that they believe are more impacted than intended by the FOP nutrition labelling policy. Health Canada examined these cases in light of the comments received and determined that they are not aligned with the policy intent of the FOP nutrition labelling regulations.

This document addresses FOP nutrition labelling of prepackaged fresh coconut and ready-to-eat breakfast cereals (weighing 43 g or more per 250 mL).

Prepackaged fresh coconut

Background

Prepackaged fresh single ingredient coconut is exempt from displaying a Nutrition Facts table (NFt). It was Health Canada's intention to exempt all prepackaged foods from the FOP nutrition labelling requirement if they are exempt from the NFt requirement since the information provided by the FOP nutrition symbol is intended to complement the more detailed information provided in the NFt. This applies regardless of whether an NFt is voluntarily displayed, so as not to discourage manufacturers from providing this information. However, fresh single ingredient coconut was not exempted from the FOP nutrition symbol requirement even though it is exempted from the NFt requirement.

Scope

This interim policy statement applies to prepackaged fresh single ingredient coconut sold in Canada. It does not apply to other forms of coconut that are required to display an NFt, including prepackaged coconut that is frozen, dried or canned – whether a single or multiple ingredient product.

Interim Policy statement

Health Canada has determined that requiring the FOP nutrition symbol on prepackaged fresh single ingredient coconut does not align with the policy intent given that this product is exempt from the NFt requirement.

This interim policy statement signals Health Canada's determination that prepackaged fresh single ingredient coconut should not be required to carry an FOP nutrition symbol until regulatory changes can be implemented to reflect this policy.

Ready-to-eat breakfast cereals (weighing 43 g or more per 250 mL)

Background

For the FOP nutrition symbol assessment, the amount of saturated fat, sugars and sodium in a specific quantity of food must be assessed against the applicable % daily value (DV) threshold. For ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, that specific quantity of food is either 1 cup (the serving size specified in the regulations) or the reference amount (which represents the amount typically consumed in one eating occasion), whichever is greater.

Due to the density of some ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, a serving size of 1 cup corresponds to a weight that is greater than the reference amount. Therefore, the regulations require that the symbol assessment be done based on the serving size.

This is particularly unfavourable for ready-to-eat breakfast cereals such as granola. These cereals are required to use a serving size of 1 cup pursuant to item C.4 of the Table of Reference Amounts for Food, which often substantially outweighs the reference amount of 55 grams. For example, for some granola products, 1 cup weighs 115 grams, which is more than two times the amount of 55 grams that is typically consumed in one sitting. Assessing the composition of saturated fat, sugars and sodium on a serving size that substantially outweighs the reference amount is a more stringent requirement than intended.

Scope

This interim policy statement applies to ready-to-eat breakfast cereals (weighing 43 g or more per 250 mL) in item C.4 of the Table of Reference Amounts for Food that are required to declare a 1 cup serving size.

Interim Policy statement

For ready-to-eat cereals described above, Health Canada has determined that the FOP nutrition symbol requirement to assess the amount of saturated fat, sugars and sodium in a serving size that substantially outweighs the reference amount does not align with the policy intent.

This interim policy statement signals Health Canada's determination that it would be appropriate for regulated parties to base the FOP nutrition symbol assessment for such foods on the reference amount of 55 grams until regulatory changes can be implemented to reflect this policy.

Contact us

Bureau of Nutritional Sciences
Food and Nutrition Directorate
Health Products and Food Branch
Health Canada
251 Sir Frederick Banting Driveway
Postal Locator 2203E
Tunney's Pasture
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9
E-mail: nut.labelling-etiquetage@hc-sc.gc.ca