Labelling requirements for foods for special dietary use
Overview
Foods for special dietary use sold in Canada are subject to the provisions of the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) and the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), as well as those of the Food and Drugs Act (FDA) and the Food and Drug Regulations (FDR).
When sold intraprovincially, foods for special dietary use are subject to the labelling requirements under the FDA and FDR, as well as specific requirements of the SFCA and the SFCR that apply to prepackaged foods sold in Canada, regardless of the level of trade. Provincial regulations may also have labelling requirements that apply when these products are sold within that province.
In general, only the following foods can be represented in a manner likely to create the impression that they are foods for special dietary use, when they meet specific criteria outlined in Division 24 of the FDR [B.24.003(1) and (2), FDR].
- a formulated liquid diet
- a meal replacement
- a nutritional supplement
- a gluten-free food
- a food represented for:
- a protein-restricted diet,
- a low (naming the amino acid) diet, or
- a very low energy diet
The labelling requirements detailed in the following section are specific to foods for special dietary use. Refer to the Industry Labelling Tool for core labelling and voluntary claims and statements requirements that apply to all prepackaged foods.
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