On this page
- Foods to which vitamins, mineral nutrients and amino acids may or must be added
- Nutrient content claim examples
Foods to which vitamins, mineral nutrients and amino acids may or must be added
Note: In column 2 of this table, "mandatory" refers to nutrients that must be present in the food at levels specified in the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR). For some mandatory requirements, nutrients may not have to be added to achieve the levels identified in the regulations. "Voluntary" refers to nutrients that may be added to the products listed, also subject to levels specified in the FDR. Column 3, "FDR reference", refers to the sections of the regulations where nutrient levels and other specific requirements are found. In column 1, items preceded by a number refer to the same item numbers listed in section D.03.002 of the FDR.
| Column 1 Food |
Column 2 Vitamin, mineral nutrient or amino acid |
Column 3 FDR reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Breakfast cereals | Voluntary: Thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, pantothenic acid, magnesium, iron, zinc | B.13.060 D.03.002 |
| 2. Fruit nectars, vegetable drinks, bases and mixes for vegetable drinks and a mixture of vegetable juices | Voluntary: Vitamin C | D.01.009 to D.01.011 D.03.002 |
| 2.1 Fruit flavoured drinks that meet all the requirements of B.11.150, FDR | Mandatory: Vitamin C Voluntary: Folic acid, thiamine, iron, potassium |
B.11.150 D.03.002 |
| 2.2 Bases, concentrates and mixes that are used for making fruit flavoured drinks and meet all the requirements of B.11.151, FDR | Mandatory: Vitamin C Voluntary: Folic acid, thiamine, iron, potassium |
B.11.151 D.03.002 |
| 3. Infant cereal products | Voluntary: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin or niacinamide, calcium, phosphorus, iron, iodine | D.01.010 D.01.011 D.02.009 D.03.002 |
| 4. Margarine and calorie-reduced margarine for which a standard is set out in volume 8 of the CFCS document | Mandatory: Vitamin A, vitamin D Voluntary: Alpha-tocopherol |
B.09.016 D.01.011 D.03.002 |
| 4. Other similar substitutes for butter | Voluntary: Vitamin A, vitamin D, alpha-tocopherol | D.01.009 D.01.011 D.03.002 |
| 5. Alimentary pastes | Voluntary: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin or niacinamide, folic acid, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, iron, magnesium | B.13.052(1) D.03.002 |
| "Enriched" alimentary pastes | Mandatory: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, iron Voluntary: Pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, magnesium |
B.13.052(2) D.03.002 |
| 6. Human milk fortifiers, infant formulas and formulated liquid diets | Vitamins – Alpha-tocopherol, biotin, choline, d-pantothenic acid, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K Minerals – calcium, chloride, chromium, copper, iodide, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, zinc Amino acids – alanine, arginine, aspartic acid, cystine, glutamic acid, glycine, histidine, hydroxyproline, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, proline, serine, taurine, threonine, tryptophan, tyrosine, valine (to improve the quality of the protein) Also – other nutritional substances at the same levels found in human milk (for infant formula) |
B.24.101 B.24.102 B.25.052 B.25.054 D.03.002 |
| 6.1 Food represented for use in a very low-energy diet | Mandatory: Vitamins – Alpha-tocopherol, biotin, d-pantothenic acid, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin K Minerals – Calcium, chloride, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, zinc |
B.24.303 D.01.011 D.03.002 |
| 7. Flavoured beverage mixes and bases recommended for addition to milk | Voluntary: Vitamin A, thiamine, niacin or niacinamide, vitamin C, iron | D.01.009 to D.01.011 D.02.009 D.03.002 |
| 8. Simulated meat products, simulated poultry meat products, meat product extenders and poultry product extenders | Mandatory: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, d-pantothenic acid, folic acid, vitamin B12, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, copper Amino acids – Histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine |
B.14.073 B.14.085 to B.14.090 B.22.027 B.22.029 D.01.011 D.03.002 |
| 9. Meal replacements and nutritional supplements | Mandatory: Vitamins – alpha-tocopherol, biotin, d-pantothenic acid, folic acid, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin C, vitamin D Minerals – calcium, chloride, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, sodium, zinc |
B.24.200 B.24.201 D.03.002 |
| 9.1 Ready breakfast, instant breakfast and other similar breakfast replacement foods however described | Mandatory: Vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin or niacinamide, vitamin C, iron | B.01.053 D.01.009 D.01.011 D.03.002 |
| 10. Milk, milk powder, sterilized milk, (naming the flavour) milk and (naming the flavour) milk for which a standard is set out in volume 7 of the CFCS document | Mandatory: Vitamin D | B.08.003 B.08.004 D.03.002 |
| 10. Condensed milk for which a standard is set out in volume 7 of the CFCS document | Voluntary: Vitamin D | B.08.015 D.01.009 D.01.011 D.03.002 |
| 11. Skim milk with added milk solids, partly skimmed milk with added milk solids, (naming the flavour) skim milk, (naming the flavour) partly skimmed milk, (naming the flavour) skim milk with added milk solids, (naming the flavour) partly skimmed milk with added milk solids, skim milk, partly skimmed milk and skim milk powder for which a standard is set out in volume 7 of the CFCS document | Mandatory: Vitamin A, vitamin D | B.08.005 B.08.006 D.03.002 |
| 12. Evaporated milk for which a standard is set out in volume 7 of the CFCS document | Mandatory: Vitamin C, vitamin D | B.08.010 D.03.002 |
| 13. Evaporated skim milk and evaporated partly skim milk for which a standard is set out in volume 7 of the CFCS document | Mandatory: Vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin D | B.08.011 D.03.002 |
| 14. Apple juice, reconstituted apple juice, grape juice, reconstituted grape juice, pineapple juice, reconstituted pineapple juice, apple and (naming the fruit) juice and concentrated (naming the fruit) juice except frozen concentrated orange juice for which a standard is set out in volume 10 of the CFCS document | Voluntary: Vitamin C | D.01.009 to D.01.011 D.03.002 |
| 15. White flour for which a standard is set out in volume 12 of the CFCS document | Mandatory: Thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folic acid, iron Voluntary: Vitamin B6, d-pantothenic acid, calcium, magnesium |
B.13.001 D.03.002 |
| 16. Repealed | ||
| 17. Salt, for table use, for which a standard is set out in volume 14 of the CFCS document and table salt substitutes | Mandatory: Iodine | B.17.003(1) D.03.002 |
| 18. Dehydrated potatoes | Voluntary: Vitamin C | D.01.009 D.01.011 D.03.002 |
| 19. Products simulating whole egg | Mandatory: Vitamin A, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin or niacinamide, vitamin B6, d-pantothenic acid, folic acid, vitamin B12, alpha-tocopherol, calcium, iron, zinc, potassium | B.22.032 D.01.011 D.03.002 |
| 20. Repealed | ||
| 21. Goat's milk, goat's milk powder | Voluntary: Vitamin D | B.08.029(1) D.03.002 |
| 22. Partly skimmed goat's milk, skimmed goat's milk, partly skimmed goat's milk powder, skimmed goat's milk powder | Voluntary: Vitamins A and D | B.08.029(2) D.03.002 |
| 23. Evaporated goat's milk | Voluntary: Vitamins C, D, folic acid | B.08.029(3) D.03.002 |
| 24. Evaporated partly skimmed goat's milk, evaporated skimmed goat's milk | Voluntary: Vitamins A, C, D, folic acid | B.08.029(4) D.03.002 |
| 25. Pre-cooked rice as defined in B.13.010.1, FDR | Voluntary: Thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, folic acid, pantothenic acid, iron | B.13.010.1(2) D.03.002 |
| 26. Water represented as mineral water or spring water for which a standard is set out in volume 11 of the CFCS document, water in sealed containers and prepackaged ice | Voluntary: Fluorine | B.12.001(2) B.12.004 B.12.005 D.03.002 |
| 27. Liquid whole egg, dried whole egg, frozen whole egg, liquid yolk, dried yolk, frozen yolk, liquid egg-white, dried egg-white, frozen egg-white, liquid whole egg mix, dried whole egg mix, frozen whole egg mix, liquid yolk mix, dried yolk mix and frozen yolk mix for which a standard is set out in volume 19 of the CFCS document | Mandatory if there is a reduction in the vitamin and/or mineral content: Vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B6, folacin, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc | B.22.038 D.03.002 |
In the past, Interim marketing authorizations (IMA) had been issued by Health Canada to permit the addition of vitamins and minerals to certain foods. The IMA process bridged the time between the completion of the scientific evaluation supporting certain amendments (for example, expansion of the list of foods to which certain vitamins and mineral nutrients may be added) and publication of the approved amendments in the Canada Gazette, Part II.
As of October 25, 2012, Health Canada no longer issues IMAs as the ability to do so was replaced in the Food and Drugs Act with the Marketing Authorization (MA) authority. In collaboration with the CFIA, Health Canada therefore developed an interim policy position on the use of expired IMAs related to food fortification. The complete details of this policy can be found in the Interim policy on the use of expired interim marketing authorizations related to food fortification.
On June 5, 2024, Health Canada published an MA to permit the voluntary vitamin D fortification of yogurt (including drinkable yogurt) and kefir made from dairy products. For more information, refer to Marketing Autorization for Vitamin D in yogurt and kefir.
Foods that are fortified for public health purposes like those listed in the table above are excluded from the definition of supplemented foods.
Nutrient content claim examples
Nutrient content claim examples – fat claims
Example – "Low in Fat"
A package of muffins carries the claim "Low in Fat". The muffins contain 3 g of fat per serving of stated size of 75 g. Is the claim permissible?
Item 12 of the Table of Permitted Nutrient Content Statements and Claims states the conditions for "Low in Fat" claims.
Condition: The food must contain 3 g or less of fat per reference amount (in this case, 110 g according to Item A.9, Bakery Products, Column 2, Table of Reference Amounts for Foods) and per serving of stated size (in this case, 75 g) and, if the reference amount is 30 g or 30 mL or less, per 50 g.
The muffins meet the claim requirement for serving of stated size, but they must also meet the requirement for reference amount for the claim to be permissible.
To calculate the fat per reference amount of 110 g:
(3 g fat ÷ 75 g) = (x g fat ÷ 110 g)
75x = 330
x = 4.4 g fat in the reference amount
The muffins do not meet the claim requirement for the reference amount. The claim is therefore not acceptable.
Example – "% Fat-Free"
A label states that an uncooked pork sausage with a serving of stated size of 75 g is 95% fat-free. Is the claim acceptable?
In order to make a % fat-free claim, the food must first meet the conditions for "low in fat" (3 g or less of fat per reference amount and per serving of stated size). At 5% fat (95% fat-free), the sausage contains: 0.05 × 75 g = 3.75 g of fat per serving of stated size and per reference amount (which is also 75 g according to Item L.5, Meat, Poultry, Their Products and Substitutes, Column 2, Table of Reference Amounts for Foods). The claim is therefore not acceptable.
Example – "% less fat" (comparative claim)
The following statement appears on the label of a package of chicken breakfast strips: "84% less fat in 30 g vs. 54 g of our regular bacon". The chicken breakfast strips contain 3.5 g of fat per 30 g and the regular bacon contains 22 g of fat per 54 g. Is it acceptable?
The reference amount for uncooked bacon is 54 g (Item L.1, Meat, Poultry, Their Products and Substitutes, Column 2, Table of Reference Amounts for Foods) while that of uncooked chicken breakfast strips is 30 g (Item L.2, Meat, Poultry, Their Products and Substitutes, Column 2, Table of Reference Amounts for Foods). The percent reduction is calculated using the difference in the nutrient (fat) content found in the reference amounts of each food.
((22g − 3.5g) ÷ 22g) × 100 = 84%
Therefore, the claim is acceptable.
Nutrient content claim example – fibre claims
Example – High source of fibre
The following claim appears on a box of 6 muffins: "High source of wheat bran and oat bran". Each muffin contains 1.5 g of fibre from wheat bran and 3.5 g of fibre from oat bran per serving of stated size of 90 g. The reference amount is 110 g (Item A.9, Bakery Products, Column 2, Table of Reference Amounts for Foods). Is the claim acceptable?
The claim is not acceptable since there must be at least 4 g of fibre from wheat and oat independently (item 42 of the Table of Permitted Nutrient Content Statements and Claims). The claim "high source of fibre" could be made instead since there is more than 4 g of fibre (total) per reference amount and per serving of stated size.