Table of Reference Amounts for Food

Overview

This document sets out reference amounts for different categories of foods.

Reference amounts:

• represent the amount of food typically consumed in one eating occasion;
• are used to determine what is considered to be a single-serving prepackaged product;
• serve as the basis for determining the serving size to be shown in the Nutrition Facts table (NFt) of multiple-serving prepackaged products;
• serve as part of the criteria for making nutrient content claims and health claims; and
• factor into the requirements for the new front-of-package nutrition symbol.

Also provided are instructions on how to determine the serving size for the nutrition facts table.

This document is incorporated by reference in the Food and Drug Regulations. This Table is the most current version and was published November 24, 2022. A prepackaged product can continue to be labelled in accordance with the previous version of this document (dated December 14, 2016) until December 31, 2025.

To facilitate future updates to the Table of Reference Amounts for Food, stakeholders are encouraged to submit proposals for potential amendments to nut.labelling-etiquetage@hc-sc.gc.ca. The type of information that is required to accommodate such proposals depends on the request. For example, an update to an existing reference amount would require consumption data to justify a change. However, if the proposal is to add a new food to the Table of reference amounts for food, the following information can be provided to inform the requested change:

• a recommendation for a reasonable serving size;
• information on the intended/usual use of the food;
• label information from the same or similar foods currently on the market; and
• consumption data.

Who this document is for

• food industry
• other interested stakeholders

In this document

Definitions

1. Bakery Products and Substitutes
2. Beverages
3. Cereals, Other Grain Products and Substitutes
4. Dairy Products and Substitutes
5. E. Desserts
6. Dessert Toppings and Fillings
7. Eggs and Egg Substitutes
8. Fats and Oils
9. Marine and Fresh Water Animals and Substitutes
10. Fruit and Fruit Juices
11. Legumes
12. Meat, Poultry, Their Products and Substitutes
13. Miscellaneous Category
14. Combination Dishes Including Main Dishes
15. Nuts and Seeds
16. Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes and Yams
17. Salads
18. Sauces, Dips, Gravies and Condiments
19. Snacks
20. Soups
21. U. Sugars and Sweets
22. Vegetables
23. Foods Intended Solely for Children Under Four Years of Age
24. Meal Replacements and Nutritional Supplements

Notes

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Related documents

• Table of Daily Values
• Directory of Nutrition Facts Table Formats
• Notice of proposal to update the nutrition labelling: Table of reference amounts for food
• Notice of modification to update the incorporated by reference document entitled nutrition labelling – Table of reference amounts for food

Related acts and regulations

• Regulations amending the Food and Drug Regulations – Nutrition labelling, other labelling provisions and food colours
• Foods and Drugs Act
• Food and Drug Regulations