Voluntary sodium reduction targets for processed foods 2020-2025
On this page
- Summary
- Background
- Approach to updating the sodium reduction targets
- Targets for processed foods
- Canada's sodium reduction targets for processed foods
- Assessment and reporting
- References
Summary
As part of its Healthy Eating Strategy, Health Canada is committed to ongoing work with food industry stakeholders to gradually and safely reduce sodium in the food supply.
Previous voluntary sodium reduction efforts have yielded modest results. Canadians, particularly children, teens and males, are still eating too much sodium.
This document sets out Health Canada's revised sodium reduction targets for processed foods.
The revised targets and categories for processed foods are similar to those established in 2012. In some cases, new categories have been created and targets have been adjusted to:
- provide greater refinement within some categories
- account for technical challenges identified by manufacturers
- encourage further reduction in the saltiest products in each category
Health Canada continues to encourage and work with the food processing sector to reach these targets by 2025 and will evaluate the progress towards these targets.
Background
Sodium and health
Our bodies need a small amount of sodium to be healthy, but too much can lead to high blood pressure Footnote 1. Approximately 25% of Canadians over the age of 20 have been diagnosed with high blood pressure Footnote 2. Many others have high blood pressure without knowing it, since it develops slowly and without obvious symptoms. High blood pressure in turn is an important risk factor for stroke and heart disease Footnote 1.These two chronic diseases are the leading causes of death in Canada, after cancer Footnote 2.
Despite modest but encouraging decreases, sodium intakes remain high among Canadians. Recent estimates suggest that 6 out of 10 Canadians consume too much sodium. This number is even higher among children, teens and males of all age groups Footnote 3.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), a set of interventions that address unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, including reducing sodium intakes, is highly cost-effective for improving population health Footnote 4. Therefore, reducing sodium intake can lead to important health benefits of lowering blood pressure Footnote 4. This is why sodium reduction is a priority for the Government of Canada.
Sodium reduction in Canada
Reducing sodium intakes requires changes in eating behaviour as well as decreases in the sodium content of food. In 2016, Health Canada introduced the Healthy Eating Strategy, a comprehensive approach that aims to make the healthier choice easier for all Canadians. The Strategy outlined various interventions that aim to provide Canadians with simple and important information to help them make healthier food choices, protect Canadian children from the influential advertising of food and beverages high in sodium, sugars and saturated fat, and improve the quality of the Canadian food supply.
Sodium reduction is integral to these interventions. In 2018, Health Canada introduced proposed regulations that would require a front-of-package nutrition symbol to help Canadians quickly and easily identify foods high in sodium, sugars and saturated fat. In addition, Health Canada is developing regulations to restrict the advertising of food and beverages that drive overconsumption of these nutrients by children and has revised Canada's Food Guide to provide sound dietary guidance in a useful and relevant manner to all Canadians. These measures, combined with industry efforts to reduce the amount of sodium in the food supply, are expected to create a healthier food environment and decrease the amount of sodium Canadians are consuming.
Most of the sodium we consume comes from processed and commercially prepared foods, and not from the salt we add during cooking at home or at the table. This is why, in 2012, Health Canada published voluntary sodium reduction targets for 94 categories of processed foods Footnote 5. These targets were established with the goal of achieving the average intake goal of 2300 milligrams (mg) per day by the end of 2016.
In early 2018, Health Canada published an evaluation report showing that voluntary sodium reductions in most categories of processed foods were only modest and did not meet the targets Footnote 6. Specifically, voluntary efforts by the food processing sector resulted in only an 8% decrease in average sodium intake since 2010. Recent estimates indicate that the average daily sodium intake of Canadians is 2760 mg, which is still higher than the established goal of 2300 mg per day Footnote 3. Of particular concern, 81% of children aged 1 to 3 years, 99% of children aged 4 to 8 years and over 95% of males between the ages of 14 and 30 are eating too much sodium. These results indicate that the food industry needs to do more to lower the sodium content of foods and thus support further reductions in the sodium intake of Canadians.
Approach to updating the sodium reduction targets
This document sets out Health Canada's sodium reduction targets for processed foods. The targets build on previous experience with this sector and continue to apply to processed foods sold in retail outlets as well as those destined for further processing, such as ingredients sold to foodservice establishments.
In setting the various targets, Health Canada took into consideration the current Canadian and international contexts, feedback from stakeholders, and lessons learned from the 2012 voluntary sodium reduction targets and monitoring initiative. The aim is to set sodium reduction targets that are realistic and will achieve meaningful reductions in sodium in the food supply.
In 2014, Member States of the WHO, including Canada, committed to the WHO's Global Monitoring Framework for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) to work towards reducing global sodium intakes by 30% by 2025. Based on this commitment, Health Canada aims to achieve an average sodium intake of 2300 mg per day in the next five years. This is also consistent with the updated Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) for sodium released by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) in 2019 that recommended reducing sodium intakes above 2300 mg per day, to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension Footnote 7.
In 2017, Health Canada collected data to assess sodium levels in the Canadian food supply. Two data sources were used: food label and sales data for processed foods. More specifically, food labels of processed foods were collected from across Canada based on the 94 categories that had established sodium reduction targets. This information was matched with sales data (kilogram volumes) to weight the data so that it is representative of choices that are made by Canadians. This data was used as the basis for revising the processed food targets.
Health Canada acknowledges that reducing sodium can be challenging and thus encourages manufacturers explore different options to lower sodium levels in processed foods. In addition to simply use less salt, this could include using salt substitutes like potassium chloride where necessary. Potassium chloride is typically used as a partial substitute for salt in food processing and manufacturing to replace sodium chloride. The substitution of potassium chloride for sodium chloride can be advantageous since Canadians are consuming too much sodium and not enough potassium. Increased potassium intake is associated with improved blood pressure control Footnote 7. To help inform consumers of the role of potassium chloride in food, "salt substitute" can be listed in brackets following potassium chloride in the list of ingredients.
Targets for processed foods
These targets build on those published in 2012 and were to be achieved by the end of 2016 Footnote 5. They continue to apply to processed foods sold in retail outlets as well as those destined for further processing, such as ingredients and ready-to-serve items sold to restaurants and foodservice establishments.
The targets continue to have the same components: a sales weighted average (SWA) as well as a maximum level.
Components of the sodium reduction targets for processed foods
1. Sales weighted average targets are set as a concentration of sodium (milligrams of sodium per 100 grams of food)
A sales weighted average (SWA) is an average amount of sodium in each food category, taking into consideration the amount of products sold for that category in one yearFootnote A. The SWA is calculated by multiplying the sodium amount of each product within a category (mg of sodium per 100 g of product) by its volume of annual sales (kg), then summing up. This result is then divided by the total volume of sales of all products within this category for the same year (kg).
This method of calculation is considered a gold standard as it reflects product consumption more accurately than a simple average. It gives more weight to the products that Canadians purchased more, and less weight to the products that Canadians purchased less. By using the SWA target for a specific food category, manufacturers' sodium reduction efforts can be better focused on more frequently consumed food products within that category. For a company to meet the target, the SWA of all products within a category needs to be equal to, or less than the SWA target for the category (see example below).
2. Maximum level targets are set as a limit of the concentration of sodium per 100 grams of the food
Maximum level targets apply to the amount of sodium per 100 grams for individual products within a category. For a company to meet the maximum level target, all products within a category need to be equal to or less than the maximum level target (see example below).
Maximum level targets aim to encourage manufacturers to reduce the sodium added to the saltiest foods in each category. The majority of the maximum level targets correspond to the 75th percentile of the sodium levels observed in each category.
Products | A Sodium amount per serving (mg Sodium) |
B Serving of stated size as consumed (g Product) |
C = (A / B) * 100 Amount of sodium in 100g of product (mg Sodium per 100g Product) |
D Total amount of product sold (kg Product Sold) |
E = C * D Sales weighted total amount of sodium (mg Sodium per 100g Product) * kg Product Sold |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cracker variety 1 | 290 | 32 | 906 | 210705 (D1) |
190898730 (E1) |
Cracker variety 2 | 140 | 30 | 467 | 90931 (D2) |
42464777 (E2) |
Cracker variety 3 | 110 | 30 | 367 | 71195 (D3) |
26128565 (E3) |
Total | N/A | N/A | N/A | 372831 | 259492072 |
Sodium sales weighted average for the 3 varieties of crackers sold by company A
= "Sales weighted total amount of sodium for 3 varieties of crackers sold" divided by "Total amount of crackers sold"
= (E1 + E2 + E3) / (D1 + D2 + D3)
= 259492072 mg sodium per 100g product * kg product sold / 372831 kg product sold
= 696 mg sodium per 100 g product
Therefore, SWA for the 3 varieties of crackers sold by company A is 696 mg per 100 g
For crackers:
SWA target: 600 mg per 100 g
Maximum level target: 870 mg per 100 g
Company A's SWA, 696 mg per 100 g, did not meet the SWA target of 600 mg per 100 g. The sodium concentration of cracker variety 1 is 906 mg per 100 g and is higher than the maximum level of 870 mg per 100 g. Therefore, cracker variety 1 did not meet the maximum level target. Cracker variety 2 and cracker variety 3 have sodium concentration lower than the maximum level target of 870 mg per 100 g so those products met the maximum level target.
Changes to target categories
In general, the majority of categories and their descriptions set in 2012 were maintained. Changes were made in response to specific feedback. The following are some areas where we have made changes:
- Where the category was too general and there were specific challenges for some products or types of products within the category. For example, we have split the category for pantry bread and rolls (previously 1b) into three new subcategories: whole wheat & mixed grain products; white bread products; and pizza crust. We have also split the natural cheese category (previously 3c) into six target specific categories based on cheese varieties. Sodium plays distinct roles in these varieties of cheeses and the level required is subsequently impacted (for example, it has an impact on the texture, stretch and melt in mozzarella and it is required to control the flavour development during the aging process for cheddars).
- Where subcategories showed results inconsistent with the rest of the category, targets were adjusted to be more realistic and meaningful for each subcategory. For example, in the previous 1a category, English muffins and raisin bread have been split into two categories and their targets were adjusted.
- Two new categories have been set out for the group of oriental sauces belonging to the previous 11g category: Soya, oyster and hoisin sauces that are saltier sauces and used in similar ways have been grouped together and we have set out a separate category for the other oriental-type sauces (e.g. teriyaki, peanut) that are typically less salty.
- Six new categories have been set out for groups of products that showed similar sodium levels within the appetizer, sides and entrees categories (previously 6j and 6k): corn dogs, breaded/battered cheese and vegetables, dough/pastry based dishes, Mexican type dishes, vegetable-based dishes and legume-based dishes. The targets were adjusted to better reflect the sodium levels of these six new categories. This change was based on feedback received from some manufacturers of these products and a further review of how the data clustered within the overall categories.
Overall, these adjustments have resulted in an increased number of target categories for processed foods from 94 to 117. This approach covers the majority of the sodium-containing processed foods in the Canadian food supply and it is similar to the approaches of the United States (125 processed food categories) and the United Kingdom (84 processed food categories).
Changes to target levels
The 2012 SWA targets Footnote 5 were designed to help achieve the average intake goal of 2300 mg per day, and thus the majority of the targets are the same as the previous levels. For new or adjusted categories, the SWA targets were set as a 15 to 20% reduction from the 2017 measured levels to align with the reduction still needed in current intakes to achieve the intake goal of 2300 mg of sodium per day (e.g., Havarti and provolone). In some cases, the SWA target was set at a level to achieve a smaller reduction from the 2017 measured levels to be more realistic and meaningful for the adjusted subcategory (e.g., raisin bread).
The SWA targets for the categories that were split, were either maintained because they were deemed as still meaningful to encourage sodium reductions, or revised either downwards or upwards depending on how the data was distributed around the average. For example, within the pantry bread and rolls category (previously 1b), the SWA target for whole wheat & mixed grain bread and rolls was adjusted downwards and the SWA target for white bread and rolls was given a higher target because these products face more challenges. Pizza crusts were pulled out from category 1b into a separate category and given a higher target because these products contained sodium preservatives for increased shelf life and were clustered at the high end of the original pantry bread and rolls category. In the case of the natural cheese category (previously 3c), the SWA target for mozzarella and cheddar was maintained (same as 2016 SWA target) but Brie and Camembert as well as Swiss cheese were given lower SWA targets that are more specific to these varieties of cheeses, which are typically lower in sodium.
For most categories, the 2025 maximum level targets were set at the 75th percentile of the 2017 category data to better reflect the current market. This includes the maximum level targets for new or adjusted categories. This acknowledges the progress industry has made in reducing sodium, and at the same time, encourages further reduction in the saltiest products within the category.
However, in a few cases, the maximum level target increased from the previous target to reflect comments received from the food industry related to technical challenges they faced when trying to reduce sodium below the 2016 maximum level targets. For example, the maximum level target for cured meats like salami (category 7g) was increased from 1400 mg to 1800 mg per 100 g, because sodium is needed to lower the water activity to ensure control of microbial growth and food safety.
For product categories that went below the 2016 SWA targets and/or maximum level targets, their targets were adjusted to reflect the 2017 measured sodium levels and to maintain the progress already achieved in the category (e.g. hard cheese, toddler mixed dishes).
Canada's sodium reduction targets for processed foods
The sales weighted average targets apply to the sales-weighted average sodium for all company products within the category. The maximum level target applies to individual products within the category. For many categories, maximum level targets were set at the 75th percentile of the 2017 measured level.
Targets for processed foods and foods destined for further processing
Note: Adjusted or new categories and revised or new targets are marked with a double star (**). Targets are set as mg sodium per 100 grams of food.
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1aa. English muffins** | White or whole grain English muffins and crumpets. | 260 | 400 | 291 | 260 | 370** |
1ab. Raisin bread** | Bread with raisins | 260 | 400 | 355 | 330** | 380** |
1ba. White pantry bread and rolls, bagels, croissants, and flatbreads** | Prepackaged white sliced breads, bagels, croissants (includes frozen doughs as consumed), flatbreads (e.g. pita, Greek flatbread), diet or low calorie breads, and pantry rolls and buns. Also includes par-baked bread and rolls. | 330 | 520 | 445 | 360** | 520 |
1bb. Whole wheat and mixed grain pantry bread and rolls, bagels, croissants, and flatbreads** | Prepackaged whole wheat and mixed grain sliced breads (includes breads with whole wheat and mixed grains as main ingredients), bagels, croissants (includes frozen doughs as consumed), flatbreads (e.g. pita, Greek flatbread), diet or low calorie breads, and pantry rolls and buns. Also includes par-baked bread and rolls. | 330 | 520 | 387 | 330 | 400** |
1bc. Pizza crust** | Pizza crust | 330 | 520 | 466 | 400** | 540** |
1ca. 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, and pumpernickel bread. Also includes bread mixes and frozen dough as consumed. | 470 | 600 | 504 | 430** | 560** |
1cb. Hearth and non-hearth bread with savoury additions** | Hearth and non-heart bread with additions, e.g. olives, garlic, onion, and cheese. Also includes bread mixes and frozen dough as consumed. | 470 | 600 | 548 | 470 | 600 |
1d. Tortillas and wraps | Refrigerated and shelf stable plain or flavoured tortillas, wraps or naan. Excludes flatbread (see 1ba and 1bb). | 550 | 760 | 571 | 550 | 670** |
1e. Pie dough and shells | Refrigerated or frozen pie or tart shells and dry mixes as consumed. Excludes graham cracker crusts. | 250 | 530 | 376 | 250 | 370** |
1f. Refrigerated dough | Refrigerated fruit filled pastry, garlic bread, croissant, and dinner roll dough. Excludes refrigerated cookie dough (see 1j). | 510 | 790 | 689 | 510 | 790 |
1g. Dry bread | Melba toast, rusks, breadsticks, pita or baguette chips, and other crisp breads. Excludes breadcrumbs and croutons (see 1h). | 480 | 860 | 574 | 480 | 810** |
1h. Breadcrumbs, croutons, and salad toppers | Plain and seasoned breadcrumbs, croutons, and salad toppers, e.g. fried chow mein noodles and wonton strips. | 670 | 1150 | 762 | 670 | 1070** |
1i. Crackers | Plain or flavoured crackers, sandwich crackers, puffed cakes, and graham crackers, e.g. cheese crackers, soda crackers, and rice cakes. Excludes dry bread (see 1g). | 600 | 930 | 752 | 600 | 870** |
1j. Cookies | Filled and unfilled sweet cookies, biscuits, refrigerated dough, and dry mixes as consumed. Excludes graham crackers (see 1i) and infant and toddler cookies and biscuits (see 15b). | 240 | 390 | 276 | 240 | 340** |
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). | 230 | 400 | 315 | 230 | 400 |
1l. Toaster pastries | Toaster pastries with fruit or other fillings. | 320 | 400 | 358 | 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). | 180 | 340 | 240 | 180 | 280** |
1n. Sweet and salty bars | Sweet and salty granola bars. | 300 | 400 | 407 | 300 | 400 |
1o. Pancakes, waffles, and French toast | Shelf stable, frozen, refrigerated, and dry mix products as consumed. | 440 | 650 | 564 | 440 | 620** |
1p. Tea biscuits and scones | Ready-made and dry mix tea biscuits, scones, and non-yeast leavened cinnamon rolls as consumed. | 530 | 790 | 691 | 530 | 790 |
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2a. Ready-to-eat cereals | Granola, muesli, shredded, flaked, puffed, extruded, and high-fibre compact cereals. | 360 | 630 | 393 | 360 | 550** |
2b. Hot instant cereals | Plain and flavoured hot instant cereals (dry mix, as sold), e.g. oatmeal. | 340 | 600 | 425 | 340 | 490** |
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
3a. Cottage cheese | Plain and flavoured cottage cheese. Excludes ricotta. | 280 | 410 | 279 | 280 | 370** |
3ba. Cream cheese and cream cheese products** | Plain and flavoured (sweet or savoury) products. Includes cream cheese spread and cream cheese-style products. Excludes cream cheese based dips (see 11ea). | 350 | 600 | 461 | 420** | 500** |
3bb. Goat cheese** | Soft unripened goat cheese. | 350 | 600 | 384 | 330** | 470** |
3ca. Brie and Camembert** | Brie and Camembert |
670 | 770 | 549 | 500** | 600** |
3cb. Brick, Cheddar, Colby, and Mozzarella** | Brick, Colby, Mozzarella (including pasta filata), string cheese, and mild, medium and old Cheddar. Excludes fresh mozzarella and cheese curds. | 670 | 770 | 716 | 670 | 770 |
3cc. Gouda and Monterey Jack** | Gouda and Monterey Jack | 670 | 770 | 676 | 630** | 730** |
3cd. Shredded mixed cheese** | Shredded mixed cheese | 670 | 770 | 694 | 630** | 730** |
3ce. Swiss** | Swiss cheese | 670 | 770 | 402 | 360** | 520** |
3d. Hard cheese, grated and ungrated | Shelf stable and refrigerated hard cheese, e.g. Parmesan and Romano. | 1720 | 2530 | 1419 | 1420** | 2530 |
3e. Feta and feta-style cheese | Cheese sold in brine and cheese salted through a brine, e.g. feta cheese. | 1100 | 1530 | 1251 | 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 3cb). | 1240 | 1670 | 1444 | 1240 | 1500** |
3g. Dairy-free cheese and spreads | Soy, rice, and other dairy-free cheese slices, blocks, and spreads. | 460 | 1140 | 957 | 460 | 1000** |
3h. Havarti and Provolone** | Havarti and Provolone | N/A | N/A | 694 | 590** | 770** |
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
4a. Salted butter and butter blends | Plain and flavoured butter and butter blends. Excludes unsalted butter. | 480 | 800 | 696 | 480 | 800 |
4b. Salted margarine | Plain and flavoured margarine. Excludes unsalted margarine. | 480 | 800 | 665 | 480 | 700** |
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. Also includes standardized salad dressing (see B.07.040 and B.07.042 of the Food and Drug Regulations). | 530 | 840 | 745 | 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). | 690 | 1130 | 842 | 690 | 940** |
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5a. Canned tuna | Shelf stable water and oil packed tuna. Excludes sauce packed tuna (see 5b). | 250 | 400 | 350 | 250 | 400 |
5b. Canned salmon and other canned fish and shellfish | Canned salmon, water and oil packed fish, sauce packed fish, canned 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. | 320 | 530 | 359 | 320 | 400** |
5c. Imitation and simulated seafood | Surimi, crab flavoured pollock, imitation or simulated crab and lobster meat. | 550 | 710 | 462 | 460** | 570** |
5d. Kippered fish | Kippered fish, e.g. kippered herring. | 540 | 1030 | 452 | 450** | 1030 |
5e. Frozen plain fish and seafood with added sodium phosphate | Frozen plain fish and seafood with added sodium phosphate. | 220 | 570 | 364 | 220 | 530** |
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. | 300 | 560 | 376 | 300 | 470** |
5g. Smoked fish | Smoked fish, e.g. smoked salmon and smoked rainbow trout. Excludes fresh smoked fish and salmon jerky (see 7k). | 610 | 1000 | 741 | 610 | 800** |
5h. Fish and seafood mousse, spread, and dips | Fish and seafood based mousse, spread, and dips. | 400 | 620 | 502 | 400 | 570** |
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6a. Canned chili | Shelf stable vegetarian and meat chili. | 220 | 330 | 297 | 220 | 300** |
6b. Canned stew and meatballs | Shelf stable stew, meatballs, and curries. | 410 | 630 | 470 | 410 | 530** |
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. | 270 | 440 | 308 | 270 | 340** |
6d. Stuffing mixes | Shelf stable stuffing mixes as consumed. Excludes refrigerated stuffing (see 6ja). | 500 | 630 | 457 | 460** | 590** |
6e. Baked and refried beans | Shelf stable meat and vegetarian baked beans and refried beans. | 250 | 370 | 322 | 250 | 350** |
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 6je or 6jh). | 400 | 610 | 533 | 400 | 580** |
6ga. Fries** | Plain and seasoned French fries, sweet potato fries. | 170 | 380 | 220 | 170 | 340** |
6gb. Hash browns and potato patties** | Hash browns and potato patties. | 170 | 380 | 346 | 280** | 510** |
6h. Dry mashed or scalloped potatoes | Dehydrated scalloped or mashed potatoes as consumed. | 290 | 440 | 412 | 290 | 440 |
6i. Refrigerated prepared salads | Refrigerated prepared salads, e.g. potato salad, coleslaw, pasta salad, vegetable salad, bean salad, couscous, and rice salad. | 220 | 390 | 308 | 220 | 390 |
6ja. Refrigerated or frozen appetizers, sides, and entrees with a serving size less than 170 g** | Dinner entrees, meal sides, meal centers, and appetizers with a serving size less than 170 grams. Excludes all other items listed in Category 6. | 350 | 500 | 431 | 350 | 500 |
6jb. Refrigerated or frozen appetizers, sides, and entrees with a serving size of 170 g or more** | Dinner entrees, meal sides, meal centers, and appetizers with a serving size of 170 grams or more. Excludes all other items listed in Category 6. | 220 | 340 | 271 | 220 | 320** |
6jc. Frozen corn dogs and sausages in pastry, batter, bacon or other additions** | Cornbread hot dogs, mini wieners, smokies, and sausages in pastry, batter, bacon wrapped or with other high sodium additions. | 350 | 500 | 883 | 760** | 930** |
6jd. Refrigerated or frozen breaded and/or Battered Cheese and Vegetables** | Breaded and/or battered cheese with or without vegetables and sauce, and breaded and/or battered vegetables (e.g. onions). | 350 | 500 | 533 | 450** | 580** |
6je. Refrigerated or frozen dough or pastry filled with savoury mixed ingredients** | Meat and fish pies, tourtiere, quiche, dumplings, wontons, perogies, spring rolls, queso and taco bites, samosas, egg rolls, phyllo purses/hors d'oeuvres/puff pastries/fillo twisters, pot stickers, sausage rolls, spanakopita, and tyropita. | 220 or 350 | 340 or 500 | 394 | 330** | 440** |
6jf. Refrigerated or frozen pasta** | Pasta with cream sauce (cream/rose/cheese sauce), non-cream sauce, and stuffed pasta without sauce. | 220 or 350 | 340 or 500 | 276 | 230** | 310** |
6jg. Refrigerated or frozen Vegetables and legumes** | Vegetables with additions or seasoned, e.g. butternut squash, corn, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, Brussel sprouts, and falafel. | 350 | 500 | 272 | 230** | 340** |
6jh. Refrigerated or frozen Mexican type products** | Tacos, quesadillas, chimichangas, and burritos. | 220 or 350 | 340 or 500 | 324 | 275** | 390** |
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7a. Uncooked bacon - belly | Uncooked belly bacon. Excludes back bacon (see 7o), bacon substitutes (see 7b), and pre-cooked shelf stable bacon (see 7p). | 580 | 610 | 518 | 520** | 610 |
7b. Fully cooked breakfast strips and bacon substitutes | Chicken, turkey, and other meat based breakfast strips. Excludes cooked back bacon (see 7f) and pre-cooked shelf stable bacon (see 7p). | 910 | 960 | 886 | 890** | 960 |
7c. Uncooked fresh sausage | Uncooked breakfast and dinner sausages, e.g. pork, chicken, and turkey. | 660 | 690 | 690 | 660 | 690 |
7d. Fully cooked sausage - smoked and unsmoked, and wieners | Wieners (hot dogs) and smoked or unsmoked sausages with or without cheese. | 830 | 870 | 886 | 830 | 870 |
7e. Pâtés and spreads | Pâtés and spreads, e.g. creton and liverwurst. Excludes fish pâtés and spreads (see 5h). | 570 | 600 | 702 | 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. | 850 | 890 | 905 | 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. | 1330 | 1400 | 1612 | 1330 | 1800** |
7h. Canned chicken or turkey | Shelf stable flakes and chunks of chicken or turkey. | 450 | 470 | 575 | 450 | 470 |
7i. Canned meat | Shelf stable meats, e.g. Vienna sausage, flaked ham, corned beef, and luncheon meat. | 790 | 830 | 848 | 790 | 830 |
7j. Meat sticks | Shelf stable and refrigerated meat sticks, e.g. pepperoni, turkey, beef, ham, and chicken. | 1080 | 1140 | 1196 | 1080 | 1140 |
7k. Jerky | Shelf stable jerky, e.g. beef, turkey, and salmon. | 1900 | 2000 | 1552 | 1550** | 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. | 370 | 390 | 342 | 340** | 390 |
7ma. Burgers, meatballs, and meat loaf** | Meat and poultry burgers, meatballs, and meatloaf. See 7mb for breaded products. |
450 | 470 | 386 | 390** | 430** |
7mb. Breaded meat and poultry** | Breaded meat products, e.g. products with cheese, burgers, strips, nuggets, chicken burgers, chicken balls, schnitzel, and cutlets. | 450 | 470 | 506 | 450 | 530** |
7n. Chicken wings | Cooked and uncooked chicken wings in sauce, breaded or battered, and seasoned. | 570 | 600 | 568 | 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 uncooked belly bacon (see 7a) and cooked back bacon (see 7f). | 900 | 950 | 746 | 750** | 950 |
7p. Bacon bits and shelf stable pre-cooked bacon | Shelf stable real and simulated bacon bits and bacon strips. | 1800 | 3000 | 1632 | 1630** | 2710** |
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8a. Seasoned tofu and tempeh | Savoury, marinated, and seasoned tofu and tempeh. Excludes plain tofu, tofu based desserts, and plain tempeh. | 100 | 530 | 46 | 50** | 280** |
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). | 380 | 580 | 545 | 380 | 580 |
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 240 | 360 | 266 | 240 | 320** |
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
10aa. Chips and popcorn** |
Potato, corn, tortilla, rice, and vegetable chips, microwave and stovetop ready popcorn, and seasoned or candied ready to eat popcorn. Excludes unseasoned dry popcorn kernels. | 400 | 880 | 631 | 400 | 750** |
10ab. Extruded corn snacks** |
Extruded and puffed corn snacks, e.g. cheese snacks. | 400 | 880 | 925 | 790** | 980** |
10b. Pretzels and snack mixes | Hard pretzels, candied pretzels, sesame sticks, and assorted snack mixes. Excludes trail mix. | 790 | 1400 | 1106 | 790 | 1280** |
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. | 320 | 550 | 408 | 320 | 520** |
10da. Pudding excluding instant dry mix** | Pudding (refrigerated, shelf stable, and dry mix excluding instant) as consumed. Includes soy pudding. | 80 | 150 | 125 | 80 | 150 |
10db. Pudding instant dry mix** | Pudding, instant dry mix, as consumed. Includes soy pudding. | 80 | 150 | 267 | 250** | 300** |
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11aa. Tomato based pasta and pizza sauce** |
Shelf stable, refrigerated, frozen, and dry mix tomato-based pasta, pizza, and lasagna sauces, as consumed. | 320 | 520 | 353 | 300** | 380** |
11ab. Cream based pasta sauce** | Shelf stable, refrigerated, frozen, and dry mix cream or cheese pasta sauces, as consumed. | 320 | 520 | 480 | 390** | 570** |
11b. Pesto | Shelf stable and refrigerated pesto, e.g. basil or sun-dried tomato pesto. | 770 | 1160 | 773 | 770 | 990** |
11c. Tomato sauce | Shelf stable plain or flavoured tomato sauce. Excludes tomato-based pasta sauces (see 11aa) and tomato paste (see 12a). | 250 | 490 | 334 | 250 | 450** |
11d. Condiments | Shelf stable condiments, e.g. ketchup, chili sauce, seafood sauce, BBQ sauce, steak sauce, chutney, and mustard. Excludes hot sauce. For relish (see 12d). | 660 | 1400 | 1084 | 660 | 1120** |
11ea. Gravy, cooking sauces, salsa and dips** |
Shelf stable, refrigerated and dry mix gravy, cooking sauces (e.g. hollandaise, curry, and stir-fry sauces), salsa, vegetable-, mayonnaise- and dairy-based dips (e.g. spinach and tzatziki) as consumed. Excludes hummus and legume dips (see 11eb) and curry paste (see 11i). | 400 | 670 | 604 | 480** | 780** |
11eb. Hummus and legume dips** |
Hummus and legume dips. Excludes gravy, cooking sauces, salsa and dips (see 11ea) and curry paste (see 11i). | 400 | 670 | 404 | 320** | 450** |
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 11gb). | 100 | 350 | 302 | 100 | 350 |
11ga. Soya, oyster and hoisin sauce** |
Soya, hoisin and oyster sauce. Excludes fish sauce. For sweet oriental sauces (see 11f), other oriental-type sauces (see 11gb), stir-fry sauce (see 11ea), and marinades (see 11h). | 2300 | 4300 | 4506 | 3600** | 5710** |
11gb. Other oriental-type sauces** |
Other oriental-type sauces, e.g. teriyaki, black bean, peanut garlic, dim sum, and sweet or Thai-chili sauce. Excludes hot sauce. For soya, oyster and hoisin sauce (see 11ga), sweet oriental sauces (see 11f), stir-fry sauce (see 11ea), and marinades (see 11h). | 2300 | 4300 | 1124 | 990** | 1220** |
11h. Marinades | Shelf stable and dry marinade mixes as consumed. | 1800 | 3000 | 2412 | 1800 | 2770** |
11i. Curry pastes | Curry pastes, e.g. Thai and Indian. | 1300 | 3300 | 1995 | 1300 | 2330** |
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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. | 470 | 840 | 252 | 250** | 370** |
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. | 100 | 310 | 181 | 100 | 250** |
12c. Sour pickled vegetables | Shelf stable sour pickled vegetables, e.g. cucumbers, onions, peppers, sauerkraut, and other vegetables. | 640 | 1040 | 854 | 640 | 900** |
12d. Sweet pickled vegetables | Shelf stable sweet pickled vegetables, e.g. cucumbers, onions, relish, and other vegetables. | 400 | 700 | 506 | 400 | 570** |
12e. Olives and sundried tomatoes | Shelf stable un-stuffed olives, tapenade, and sundried tomatoes. Excludes stuffed olives (see 12f). | 880 | 1800 | 1230 | 880 | 1730** |
12f. Stuffed olives | Shelf stable stuffed olives. | 1600 | 2000 | 1603 | 1600 | 1870** |
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. | 180 | 330 | 199 | 180 | 240** |
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
13a. Nut butters | Nut butters, e.g. peanut, almond, cashew, and soy. Excludes unsalted nut butters and tahini. | 300 | 430 | 354 | 300 | 400** |
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
14a. Breading, batter, and coatings | Breading or batter coatings for meat, poultry, fish, or vegetables. | 1840 | 3420 | 2971 | 1840 | 3330** |
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 and seasoning salt. | 5100 | 9100 | 9622 | 5100 | 9100 |
14c. Meat, poultry and fish seasoning | Dry seasoning for meat, poultry and fish, e.g. steak spice. | 12700 | 23000 | 16198 | 12700** | 19200** |
Food Category | Food Category Description | 2016 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2016 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2017 Measured Level Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Sales Weighted Average (mg sodium per 100g product) |
2025 Targets Maximum Level (mg sodium per 100g product) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15a. Toddler mixed dishes | Shelf stable and frozen toddler entrees. | 190 | 240 | 96 | 100** | 200** |
15b. Cookies, biscuits and snack bars | Infant and toddler cookies, biscuits, and snack bars. | 160 | 320 | 166 | 160 | 250** |
15c. Savoury snacks | Infant and toddler seasoned extruded snacks. | 400 | 540 | 514 | 400 | 540 |
Assessment and reporting
Canada committed to meeting the WHO 30% relative reduction in mean population intake of sodium by 2025. A 30% relative reduction in intake would bring the average sodium intakes of Canadians to the intake goal of 2300 mg per day. Health Canada encourages the food processing sector to achieve the targets by 2025 and will assess progress. In order to assess progress towards meeting the targets, up-to-date food label and sales data for processed foods will be required on the 117 categories that have established sodium reduction targets. If assessment indicates that the sector is making little progress; other courses of action may be considered.
Health Canada will also evaluate population sodium intakes using data on food intake of Canadians obtained through the Canadian Community Health Survey – Nutrition (CCHS – Nutrition) and sodium levels in food. If sodium levels in the food supply decrease to the 2025 sodium targets, it is anticipated that the average sodium intake of Canadians will decrease to about 2300 mg per day, the established intake goal.
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