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Date markings and storage instructions on food labels

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Requirements

General

The Food and Drugs Regulations (FDR) require prepackaged products with a durable life of 90 days or less to be labelled with date markings and storage instructions (where applicable) [B.01.007, FDR]. For foods with a durable life greater than 90 days, refer to Voluntary declaration.

Foods packaged at a place other than the retail premises

Prepackaged food with a durable life of 90 days or less and packaged at a place other than the retail premises from which it will be sold must be labelled with [B.01.007(1.1)(b), FDR]:

Foods packaged on the retail premises

Prepackaged food with a durable life of 90 days or less and packaged on the retail premises from which it is sold may be labelled with either:

or

The above flexibility for food packed at retail reflects the intent of the "packaged on" date requirement, which is to give retailers an alternative, but equally effective, method to express the "best before" date on foods the retailer may not have manufactured. It should be noted that consumers sometimes contact the CFIA seeking "packaged on" date information when a durable life date is used at retail. In these situations, consumers will be referred to the retailer to provide this information.

Note: the FDR specify the manner in which date markings must be declared. Refer to Manner of declaring for more information.

Durable life

It is the responsibility of the regulated party to determine if the product has a durable life of 90 days or less and the specific durable life information for the products they sell. The durable life of products or categories is not prescribed in regulation.

Any changes made to the durable life information that result in false or misleading information on the label are prohibited by subsection 5(1) of the Food and Drugs Act (FDA).

Note: all foods sold in Canada must be safe for consumption [4(1), FDA]. A durable life date is not an indicator of food safety, neither before nor after the date. It applies to unopened products only; once opened, the shelf life of a food may change. Products may be found for sale after the "best before" date has passed as the date is based on freshness and quality, rather than safety. When this date has passed, the food may lose some of its freshness and flavour, or its texture may have changed. Some of its nutritional value, such as vitamin C content, may also be lost.

Exemptions

The following foods are exempt from the requirement to be labelled with a durable life date or packaging date [B.01.007(3), FDR]:

Voluntary declaration

Foods with a shelf life greater than 90 days (for example, cereals, semi-dry cured or dry cured sausage, etc.) are not required to be labelled with a "best before" date and storage instructions or a packaging date and durable life information. If manufacturers and retailers choose to provide customers with this information, they must follow the required manner of declaring [B.01.007(6), FDR].

Manner of declaring

Format

Durable life dates must be identified using the words "best before" and "meilleur avant". The words and symbols associated with the packaging date are the same as those prescribed for the durable life date except that the words "packaged on" and "empaqueté le" replace "best before" and "meilleur avant" [B.01.007(1.2), FDR].

In displaying the actual date, the year is shown first. Showing the year is only mandatory when its declaration is needed for the sake of clarity (for example, when the durable life goes into the next year). In this case, it is expressed by at least the last 2 numbers of the year [B.01.007(4)(b), FDR].

The month shall be shown in words after the year (if the year is shown). The month must be in both French and English on consumer packages or indicated by using the specified bilingual symbols [B.01.007(4)(c), FDR].

The bilingual symbols for the months in the durable life date are as follows [B.01.007(5), FDR]:

JA for January
FE for February
MR for March
AL for April
MA for May
JN for June
JL for July
AU for August
SE for September
OC for October
NO for November
DE for December

The day of the month is required to be shown after the month, expressed in numbers [B.01.007(4)(d), FDR].

Language

"Best before" dates and storage instructions (where applicable) or "packaged on" dates and durable life information must be bilingual on consumer packages (unless the product qualifies for an exemption from bilingual labelling). Durable life information on a poster next to the food may be unilingual provided the mandatory information is bilingual on the label.

Legibility and location

Durable life information must meet the general legibility requirements under the FDA. Refer to Legibility and location of food labelling information for additional information on these requirements.

The words associated with the durable life date ("best before" and "meilleur avant") or the packaging date ("packaged on" and "empaqueté le") must be grouped together with the durable life date or packaging date, as applicable, unless a clear explanation of the significance of the date appears elsewhere on the label (for example, "Best if consumed by the date indicated on the lid") [B.01.007(1.2) and (4)(a), FDR].

The durable life date may be shown on any part of the label, including that part, if any, that is applied to the bottom of the container provided a reference to its location on the bottom is shown elsewhere on the label (for example, "Best before: see date on bottom") [B.01.005(4), FDR].

The packaging date must not be shown on that part of the label, if any, that is applied to the bottom of the container [B.01.005(1), FDR].

Neither the durable life date, packaging date, their associated terms, the clear explanation of the significance of these dates or the reference to location of the durable life date on the bottom of the container must be grouped with the list of ingredients [B.01.008(1)(a)].

The table below outlines the manner of declaring and location for each requirement. Some requirements have more than 1 way in which they may be declared, see Examples of acceptable declarations.

Manner of declaring date marking requirements
Requirement Manner of declaring Location
Durable life date

"Best before" and "Meilleur avant" grouped together with the durable life date in the format of "month-day" or "year-month-day"

or

a clear explanation of the significance of the durable life date is shown separately from the date elsewhere on the label

On any label panel, including the bottom if a reference to its location on the bottom is shown elsewhere on the label (for example, "Best before: see date on bottom") [B.01.005(4), FDR]

Storage instructions

(if they differ from normal room temperature)

Any clear descriptive manner, for example, "Keep Refrigerated"

On any label panel except the bottom [B.01.005(1), FDR].

Packaging date

"Packaged on" and "Empaqueté le" grouped together with the packaging date in the format of "month-day" or "year-month-day"

or

a clear explanation of the significance of the packaging date is shown separately from the date elsewhere on the label

On any label panel except the bottom [B.01.005(1), FDR]

Durable life

Any clear descriptive manner (for example, the number of days a product will retain its freshness), or may be applied as a "best before" date.

In the case of food packaged on the retail premises and declaring the packaging date on the label:

Durable life on any label panel except the bottom, or on a poster next to the food [B.01.005(1), B.01.007(1.1)(c)(ii), FDR]

Note: the requirements in the above table, when on the label, are not required to be grouped with the list of ingredients [B.01.008(1)(a), FDR].

Lot code

Some product labels include lot codes, which represent information related to the manufacturing of the product. It is not recommended to use the letters "BB/MA" as part of the lot code, because this has the potential to be mistaken by consumers as indicating a best before date.

If the durable life date of a prepackaged product is dually used as the lot code, it must be shown in the prescribed manner of declaring.

For information on the requirement for a lot code or other unique identifier for traceability purposes, consult Traceability-specific labelling requirements and What to consider when selecting a lot code.

Examples of acceptable declarations

For foods packaged at a place other than the retail premises:

Best before
17 JN 28
Meilleur avant

or if the year is not needed for clarity

Best before
June 28 juin
Meilleur avant

If storage instructions are needed:

Best before/Meilleur avant
JN 28
Keep refrigerated/Garder réfrigéré

For foods packaged on the retail premises:

Packaged on/Empaqueté le
17 JN 28
Best if consumed within 5 days after the packaging date appearing on the label/ Meilleur si consommé dans les 5 jours suivant la date d'emballage sur l'étiquette.

or

Packaged on/Empaqueté le
June 28 juin
Best before/meilleur avant July 3 juillet

Date marking information on specific products

Foods repacked by a retailer

Foods that bear a packaging date and are repackaged by a retailer must maintain the original packaging date applied when the product was first packed or weighed as per B.01.007(1) of the FDR. This applies even when alterations that do not prolong the durable life of the product occur, such as trimming, deboning, muscle separation and grinding.

If the product is removed from the display and significant processing has occurred to prolong the durable life of the product, for example, it is combined with other ingredients to create a new product, or is cooked or cured, then the original packaging date is rendered meaningless. In this circumstance, a new date would be used. The retailer must consider the age and condition of the product when deciding the appropriate durable life information.

Foods that are thawed at retail prior to sale without being repackaged are not required to bear a durable life date or a packaging date. The requirement to apply date markings is related to the time that the product is being packaged. If a product is in a frozen state at the time that it is being packaged, then a best before date or packaging date need not be applied because the product is deemed to have a durable life date of greater than 90 days. In the case of single ingredient meat, poultry, marine or fresh water animal that are thawed prior to sale, the words "previously frozen" must appear on the label. Refer to "Previously frozen meat and poultry products" on the Meat and poultry products page or Previously frozen fish and fish products for more information.

Shipping containers

In the case of durable life requirements, the definition for durable life specifies "when a prepackaged product is packaged for retail sale". Therefore, the intent of the durable life regulations applies to products that will be sold at the retail level and not to shipping containers. A durable life date is not mandatory on shipping containers unless these are to be sold at the retail level of trade.

In addition, subsection B.01.007(6) of the FDR (which specifies that if a durable life date is declared it must follow the required manner of declaring) would not apply to a date marking on a shipping container that is not offered for sale at retail as it is not considered a "durable life date" marking system. However, if a shipping container is sold at retail, the durable life date marking requirements, as set out under B.01.007 of the FDR, apply.

Modified atmosphere packaged foods

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is a technique that alters the proportion of gases within a package in order to improve the shelf life of fresh or minimally processed foods. As the purpose of MAP is to extend the shelf life of a food, if the product is removed from a modified atmosphere package at retail, the durable life of that product may change and this must be factored into the establishment of appropriate durable life information.

If a manufacturer uses MAP, durable life information must be provided in one of the following manners when sold at retail:

Other date marking systems

Expiration dates on foods for special dietary use, infant formula foods and human milk fortifiers

"Expiration date" means the date after which the manufacturer does not recommend that the product be consumed, and up to which it maintains its microbiological and physical stability and nutrient content declared on the label [B.24.001, B.25.001, FDR].

Expiration dates are not required on all foods, but only on foods for special dietary use, infant formula foods and human milk fortifiers. A food for special dietary use means food that has been specially processed or formulated to meet the particular requirements of a person [B.24.001, FDR].

The FDR requires that expiration dates be shown on the label of the following foods:

These foods should not be eaten if the expiration date has passed as they have strict compositional and nutritional specifications which might not be met after the date. For this reason, it is prohibited to sell any one of these foods after the expiration date declared on the label has passed. It is also prohibited to sell it as an unpackaged food or to use it as an ingredient in another food [216.1, SFCR].

The expiration date may be shown on any part of the label, including that part, if any, that is applied to the bottom of the container provided a reference to its location on the bottom is shown elsewhere on the label. The reference is not required to be grouped with the list of ingredients [B.01.005(4), B.01.008(1)(a), FDR]. There are no prescribed expressions for "expiration date" although the term "Exp." is often used.

"Use by" dates on prepackaged fresh yeast

The FDR state the terms "use by" and "employez avant" may replace "best before" for pre-packaged fresh yeast only. It must be presented in the same form and manner as the "best before" date [B.01.007(7), FDR].

"Prepared on", "Freeze by", "Manufactured on" dates

Other date marking systems such as "prepared on" dates, "freeze by" dates and "manufactured on" dates may be of value to the consumer or the manufacturer (for example, lot codes) and therefore are not prohibited on food products, provided they are not misleading and the label meets appropriate requirements. However, they do not replace the requirements for "best before" dates and any dating system that has the same intent as durable life information must follow the prescribed manner of declaring.

"Freeze by" dates

It is acceptable to declare a "freeze by" date in addition to, and that is the same as, the "best before" date in a clear statement indicating that the product can be frozen if not consumed by the "best before" date.

For example:

Best before / Meilleur avant or Freeze by / Congelez avant
June 28 juin

Storage instructions

Storage instructions refer to such elements as temperature, light and humidity. Storage instructions provide information to the consumer on storage conditions that differ from normal room temperature. Examples include phrases such as "Keep Refrigerated" and "store in a cool, dry place". Storage instructions are mandatory on foods that require a "best before" date and where the storage conditions differ from normal room temperature. In some cases, certain products may have additional storage instruction requirements. Refer to the appropriate commodity listed under the Food-specific labelling requirements section of the Industry labelling tool for more information.

Low-acid foods packaged in hermetically sealed containers

Low-acid food packaged in hermetically sealed containers must be commercially sterile [B.27.002(1), FDR]. This does not apply to low-acid foods packaged in hermetically sealed containers if:

Additionally, the commercial sterility requirement does not apply to tomatoes or tomato products packaged in hermetically sealed containers where the tomatoes or tomato products have a pH of 4.7 or less after processing [B.27.002(3), FDR].

Related information

Consumer fact sheet, Date labelling on pre-packaged foods

Definitions

Consumer prepackaged
Consumer prepackaged, in respect of a food, means packaged in a container in the manner in which the food is ordinarily sold to or used or purchased by an individual - or in which the food may reasonably be expected to be obtained by an individual - without being repackaged, to be used for non-commercial purposes [1, SFCR].
Durable life
Durable life means the period, commencing on the day on which a prepackaged product is packaged for retail sale, during which the product, when it is stored under conditions appropriate to that product, will retain, without any appreciable deterioration, its normal wholesomeness, palatability, nutritional value and any other qualities claimed for it by the manufacturer [B.01.001(1), FDR].
Durable life date
Durable life date means the date on which the durable life of a prepackaged product ends [B.01.001(1), FDR].
Hermetically sealed container
Hermetically sealed containers mean containers that are designed and intended to be secure against the entry of microorganisms, including spores [B.27.001, FDR]. Food and beverage cans are examples of hermetically sealed containers, and they have 3 hermetic seals (1 along the side seam and the others at the top and bottom ends of the can).
Low-acid food
Low-acid food means a food, other than an alcoholic beverage, where any component of the food has a pH greater than 4.6 and a water activity greater than 0.85 [B.27.001, FDR].
Packaging date

Packaging date means:

  • the date a food is placed for the first time in a package in which it will be offered for sale to a consumer, or
  • the date a prepackaged product is weighed by a retailer in a package in which it will be offered for sale for the first time to a consumer [B.01.007(1), FDR]
Person

Person means an individual or an organization as defined in section 2 of the Criminal Code [2, FDA; 2, SFCA].

A person may therefore be an individual or an organization, and may include a consumer, a manufacturer, a retailer, an importer, a restaurant, any other commercial or industrial enterprise, an institution such as a school or hospital, and anyone else who sells, uses, or buys a food.

Prepackaged
Prepackaged, in respect of a food, means packaged in a container in the manner in which the food is ordinarily sold to or used or purchased by a person, and includes consumer prepackaged [1, SFCR].
Prepackaged product

Prepackaged product means any food that is contained in a package in the manner in which it is ordinarily sold to or used or purchased by a person [B.01.001(1), FDR].

This definition of prepackaged product under the FDR is closely aligned with the definition of prepackaged food under the SFCR.

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