How to identify Canadian food

Find out how to spot different words or symbols you might find on a label – some mean it has Canadian content, while others mean it meets a Canadian standard for food safety, quality, or organic content.

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Product of Canada

Product of Canada means the processing and labour are Canadian and a significant amount of the ingredients are Canadian.

Look for the words "Product of Canada" on food products. There is no official logo. The maple leaf can be included but is not required.

Find out more about "Product of Canada" and "Made in Canada" claims.

Made in Canada

Illustration of the Fabriqué au Canada wording on a package for canadian and imported ingredients

Illustration of the Fabriqué au Canada wording on a package for imported ingredients

Made in Canada means the last substantial transformation of the product occurred in Canada. For example, the processing of cheese, dough, sauce and other ingredients to create a pizza would be considered a substantial transformation.

Whenever the "Made in Canada" claim is used, it must also include a qualifying statement to indicate whether the food product is made in Canada from imported ingredients or a combination of imported and Canadian ingredients.

There is no official logo for "Made in Canada" on food products, so look for qualifying statements like:

  • Made in Canada from domestic and imported ingredients
  • Made in Canada from 100% Canadian (ingredient name) and imported ingredients
  • Made in Canada from imported ingredients

The maple leaf can be included but is not required.

Find out more about "Product of Canada" and "Made in Canada" claims.

100% Canadian

When the claim "100% Canadian" is used on a label, this means all of the ingredients, processing and labour used to make the food is Canadian.

It can also be used to highlight where an ingredient came from as part of a "Made in Canada" claim, or other claims. For example, "Contains 100% Canadian wheat" means all of the wheat and all the products derived from wheat (like wheat bran) used in that food are Canadian.

The maple leaf can be included but is not required.

Find out more about "100% Canadian" claims on foods or ingredients.

Other Canadian content claims

Illustration of the Prepared in Canada wording on a package

Illustration of the Packaged in Canada wording on a package

Other statements or claims that describe the Canadian value added may be used on food labels. The ingredients may have been imported, unless the label says they are Canadian. The maple leaf can be included but is not required.
Look for descriptive words about a product's Canadian value, like:

  • "Roasted and blended in Canada" to describe coffee since the coffee beans are always imported
  • "Distilled in Canada" to describe bottled water that was distilled in Canada
  • "Canned in Canada" to describe a food that was canned in Canada
  • "Processed in Canada" to describe a food which has been entirely processed in Canada
  • "Prepared in Canada" to describe a food which has been entirely prepared in Canada
  • "Packaged in Canada" to describe a food which is imported in bulk and packaged in Canada

You might also find "Prepared for" when used to describe a food that was prepared for a retailer in Canada. This doesn't mean the food was prepared in Canada.

Find out more about other Canadian content claims.

Labels with a maple leaf

There is no official logo for Canadian food products. A maple leaf on the label can be used to help you identify products that have a Canadian contribution or that are from a Canadian business, but the maple leaf is not required.

A maple leaf on a product does not always mean the product is Canadian. For instance, there are logos and trademarks with the maple leaf that mean the product meets a Canadian standard for safety, quality or organic content. These can be applied to Canadian or imported products. Some examples are the inspection legend, the Canada Organic logo or Canadian grade stamps.

Look for "Product of Canada," the qualified "Made in Canada" statement or other Canadian content claims to identify products that were grown, raised and/or made in Canada.

Inspection legend

This is used for meat products, fish, and processed egg products and means it was made in accordance with the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations in a facility located in Canada that is licensed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). It does not, by itself, mean that a food contains meat, eggs, or fish from animals raised, slaughtered or processed in Canada.

Find out more about inspection legends.

Canada Organic logo

The Canada organic logo tells you that the product meets Canada's organic standards for being labelled as an organic product (95% or more organic content). This does not, by itself, mean it is from Canadian ingredients or made in Canada. If it is made in Canada, you may also see a Canadian content claim.

When the logo is used on an imported food, the label will also indicate it is imported.

Find out more about the Canada Organic logo.

Canadian grades

Food grades establish product quality requirements so that you know what to expect. These requirements will vary depending on the food commodity and can include characteristics such as flavour, colour and size. A Canadian grade does not necessarily mean the product is from Canada. Canadian grade names or stamps can be found on foods that are from Canada or imported, so they do not tell you about the origin of the food. Some examples of Canadian grade names include:

  • Canada A
  • Canada B
  • Canada Grade A
  • Canada fancy
  • Canada No.1

Find out more about grades for food.

Country of origin for imported ingredients and products

In Canada, these imported food products are required to include the country of origin on their labels: dairy products, eggs, fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, maple and honey products, meat, wine, brandy, and some processed fruits and vegetables.

Companies can also make voluntary claims to highlight where an ingredient or product came from (for example, cookies with the claim "made with Belgian chocolate").

Find out more about country of origin on food labels.

Video: Choose Canada – Labelling guide

Transcript: Choose Canada – Labelling guide

You want to choose Canadian. But how do you know if it's a Canadian food product? Look at the label, if you see Product of Canada or Made in Canada that's a good start.

Let's break down what the labels mean, so you know what you're bringing home.

Product of Canada means it's all, or almost all, Canadian ingredients, and it's prepared in Canada.

Made in Canada means the food product was last significantly changed here in Canada. For example, the processing of cheese, dough, sauce and other ingredients to create a pizza.

The ingredients could be imported or they could include a mix of Canadian and imported ones.

When food has a "Product of Canada" or "Made in Canada label", it must comply with Canadian food labelling rules. These regulations are enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and apply to all food sold in Canada.

When you purchase foods with these labels, you're are supporting Canadian food processors.

If you see labels like these on food, it doesn't mean that it comes from Canada. These labels show that the product meets specific criteria, or tell you how it was produced.

When the Canada organic logo is used on an imported food, the label will also say it is imported.

So, if you want to choose Canadian, check food labels to spot homegrown products and support Canadian farmers and food processors.

How to report misleading food labels

The CFIA takes labelling issues seriously and wants to know about products that consumers think are labelled in a misleading manner. If you think you have found a misleading label, report a food complaint or concern.

More information

The Government of Canada does not pre-approve food labels and does not have a list of brands or products that are labelled as "Product of Canada" or "Made in Canada".

If you notice a maple leaf on a food label, check for a statement on the label that gives you more information. If you would like to know more about where a food and its ingredients come from, you can check the company's website or contact them for more information.

Some provinces and territories also have programs to support local products:

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