Information within the Nutrition Facts table
Mandatory information
The Food and Drug Regulations (FDR) state under section B.01.401 that the label of a prepackaged product shall carry a Nutrition Facts table (NFt) that contains only the information as set out in the FDR. The FDR also sets out in the tables following sections B.01.401 and B.01.402 the manner in which energy and nutrient values must be declared in the Nutrition Facts table.
Description of image - Figure 3.1 (B)
Shown here is an image of the Nutrition Facts table.
Left justified at the top of the table is the heading Nutrition Facts and stacked below it is the heading Valeur nutritive. Both are in bold. The next line is Per HM open parenthesis MM close parenthesis. The next line is pour MD open parenthesis MM close parenthesis. There is a thin rule below pour MD open parenthesis MM close parenthesis that spans the width of the table. The next line is Calories in bold followed by a placeholder, also in bold, for the amount of Calories per serving of the product. Right justified on the same line is the subheading percent symbol Daily Value in bold. Stacked under this is percent symbol valeur quotidienne. Both Percent Daily Value and percent valeur quotidienne are followed by an asterisk that refers to a footnote at the bottom of the Nutrition Facts table. There is a thick rule under Calories that ends after the amount placeholder; it does not span the width of the table.
Left justified on the next line is Fat, forward slash, Lipides in bold followed by a placeholder for amount of fat followed by a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for percent Daily Value of fat followed by a percent symbol. Indented on the next line under Fat, forward slash, Lipides is Saturated, forward slash, saturés and a placeholder for the amount of saturated fat, followed by a lower case g. Indented on the next line is a plus symbol followed by Trans, forward slash, trans followed by a placeholder for the amount of trans fat, followed by lowercase g. There is a placeholder for the combined percent Daily Value for saturated and trans fat which is right justified and vertically centered against the saturated and trans information on the left. There is a thin rule below the trans information that spans the width of the table.
The next line is Carbohydrate, forward slash, Glucides in bold followed by a placeholder for the amount of carbohydrate followed by a lowercase g. Indented on the next line under Carbohydrate, forward slash, Glucides is Fibre, forward slash, Fibres, followed by a placeholder for the amount of fibre followed by a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for percent Daily Value of Fibre followed by a percent symbol. Indented on the next line under Fibre is Sugars, forward slash, Sucres, followed by a placeholder for the amount of sugars followed by a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for the percent Daily Value of sugars followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule under the sugars information that spans the width of the table.
The next line is Protein, forward slash, Protéines in bold followed by a placeholder for amount of protein followed by a lowercase g. There is a thin rule under the protein information that spans the width of the table.
The next line is Cholesterol, forward slash, Cholestérol in bold followed by a placeholder for the amount of cholesterol followed by mg in lowercase. There is a thin rule under the cholesterol information that spans the width of the table.
The next line is Sodium in bold followed by a placeholder for the amount followed by mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for the percent Daily Value of sodium followed by a percent symbol. There is a thick rule under the sodium information that spans the width of the table.
The next line is Potassium followed by a placeholder for the amount of potassium followed by mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for percent Daily Value of potassium followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule under the potassium information that spans the width of the table.
The next line is Calcium followed by a placeholder for the amount of calcium followed by mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for the percent Daily Value of calcium followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule below the calcium information that spans the width of the table.
The next line is Iron, forward slash, Fer followed by a placeholder for the amount of iron followed by mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for the percent Daily Value of iron followed by a percent symbol. There is a thick rule under the iron information that spans the width of the Nutrition Facts table.
The next two lines is the percent Daily Value footnote that was referred to at the beginning of the table description. The footnote starts with an asterisk followed by the statement: 5 percent symbol or less is a little, 15 percent symbol or more is a lot and on the second line is an asterisk followed by the statement: 5 percent symbol ou moins c'est peu, 15 percent symbol ou plus c'est beaucoup. The terms 'a little', 'a lot', 'peu', and 'beaucoup' are in bold. This is the end of the Nutrition Facts table.
B.01.450(1) of the FDR, in conjunction with the Directory of Nutrition Facts Table Formats, prescribes the order in which the information must appear, as well as dimensions, spacing and the use of upper and lowercase letters and bold type (see section Presentation of the Nutrition Facts table).
The requirements for nutrient declarations (nutrients and/or units) are different for:
- simplified formats
- simplified formats for single-serving prepackaged products
- foods intended solely for infants 6 months of age or older but less than 1 year of age
- foods for use in manufacturing other foods
- foods for commercial and industrial enterprise or an institution, and
- small packages (< 100 cm2)
See the appropriate sections for details.
Nutrition Facts tables from other countries
Since the nutrition information requirements of other countries do not match the Canadian requirements, labels and advertisements with nutrition information other than that permitted by the FDR are considered to be labelled or advertised contrary to Canadian legislation. Therefore, only the Canadian NFt may be used to provide nutrition information in Canada, and nutrition labelling systems from other countries are not acceptable in Canada. Hence, the use of both the Canadian NFt and a nutrition information table from another country together is also not permitted (for example, a food product with both the Canadian and American NFt is not allowed).
One objective of Canada's nutrition labelling regulations is to provide a standardized system for conveying information about the nutrient content of foods. Mandatory declarations, daily values and formats which differ from those adopted by Canada make it difficult for consumers to compare foods at the point of purchase. These, therefore do not support an informed consumer choice for Canadians.
Language requirements are available in the Presentation of the Nutrition Facts table section.
Core nutrition information
The sample bilingual Nutrition Facts table below indicates the core information that must always be included in the Nutrition Facts table and the order in which it must be presented.
Description of image - Core nutrition information
Shown here is an image of the Nutrition Facts table.
Left justified at the top of the table is the heading Nutrition Facts and stacked below it is the heading Valeur nutritive. Both are in bold. The next line is Per HM open parenthesis MM close parenthesis. The next line is pour MD open parenthesis MM close parenthesis. There is a thin rule below pour MD open parenthesis MM close parenthesis that spans the width of the table. The next line is Calories in bold followed by a placeholder, also in bold, for the amount of Calories per serving of the product. Right justified on the same line is the subheading percent symbol Daily Value in bold. Stacked under this is percent symbol valeur quotidienne. Both Percent Daily Value and percent valeur quotidienne are followed by an asterisk that refers to a footnote at the bottom of the Nutrition Facts table. There is a thick rule under Calories that ends after the amount placeholder; it does not span the width of the table.
Left justified on the next line is Fat, forward slash, Lipides in bold followed by a placeholder for amount of fat followed by a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for percent Daily Value of fat followed by a percent symbol. Indented on the next line under Fat, forward slash, Lipides is Saturated, forward slash, saturés and a placeholder for the amount of saturated fat, followed by a lower case g. Indented on the next line is a plus symbol followed by Trans, forward slash, trans followed by a placeholder for the amount of trans fat, followed by lowercase g. There is a placeholder for the combined percent Daily Value for saturated and trans fat which is right justified and vertically centered against the saturated and trans information on the left. There is a thin rule below the trans information that spans the width of the table.
The next line is Carbohydrate, forward slash, Glucides in bold followed by a placeholder for the amount of carbohydrate followed by a lowercase g. Indented on the next line under Carbohydrate, forward slash, Glucides is Fibre, forward slash, Fibres, followed by a placeholder for the amount of fibre followed by a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for percent Daily Value of Fibre followed by a percent symbol. Indented on the next line under Fibre is Sugars, forward slash, Sucres, followed by a placeholder for the amount of sugars followed by a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for the percent Daily Value of sugars followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule under the sugars information that spans the width of the table.
The next line is Protein, forward slash, Protéines in bold followed by a placeholder for amount of protein followed by a lowercase g. There is a thin rule under the protein information that spans the width of the table.
The next line is Cholesterol, forward slash, Cholestérol in bold followed by a placeholder for the amount of cholesterol followed by mg in lowercase. There is a thin rule under the cholesterol information that spans the width of the table.
The next line is Sodium in bold followed by a placeholder for the amount followed by mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for the percent Daily Value of sodium followed by a percent symbol. There is a thick rule under the sodium information that spans the width of the table.
The next line is Potassium followed by a placeholder for the amount of potassium followed by mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for percent Daily Value of potassium followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule under the potassium information that spans the width of the table.
The next line is Calcium followed by a placeholder for the amount of calcium followed by mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for the percent Daily Value of calcium followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule below the calcium information that spans the width of the table.
The next line is Iron, forward slash, Fer followed by a placeholder for the amount of iron followed by mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for the percent Daily Value of iron followed by a percent symbol. There is a thick rule under the iron information that spans the width of the Nutrition Facts table.
The next two lines is the percent Daily Value footnote that was referred to at the beginning of the table description. The footnote starts with an asterisk followed by the statement: 5 percent symbol or less is a little, 15 percent symbol or more is a lot and on the second line is an asterisk followed by the statement: 5 percent symbol ou moins c'est peu, 15 percent symbol ou plus c'est beaucoup. The terms 'a little', 'a lot', 'peu', and 'beaucoup' are in bold. This is the end of the Nutrition Facts table.
Core nutrition information table
The Core nutrition information table refers to the core nutrition information which is mandatory for most Nutrition Facts tables (exceptions exist for simplified formats, for simplified formats for single-serving prepackaged products, and for foods intended solely for infants 6 months of age or older but less than 1 year of age). This table is not an exact replica of the table in the FDR [B.01.401, FDR].
- Column 1 sets out the information in the same order as in the table following B.01.401 of the FDR and also prescribes, under the heading "Nomenclature", the terms that must be used for describing this information. It is a combination of columns 1, 2 and 3 from the tables set out in the FDR. This column also sets out the units of measurement required for expressing the information.
- Column 2 sets out the manner of expression, including rounding rules for these values/amounts.
- Columns 3 to 5 provide a user-friendly resource to identify the correct rounding rules for quantities and % daily values.
Please note that serving size and % daily value are important elements of the table below. The appropriate sections provide further information on these topics and will contribute to the proper use of the table.
Notes:
- the serving of stated size set out in the NFt, expressed in the metric unit, is used as the basis for determining the information appearing in the NFt in respect of the energy value and nutrient content of the product [B.01.401(1.1), FDR]
- the percentage of daily value for a mineral nutrient shown in the NFt is established on the basis of the amount by weight, of the mineral nutrient per serving of stated size for the product, rounded off in the applicable manner set out in the table below [B.01.401(1.2), FDR]
| Required information | Rounding | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nomenclature and units | Manner of expression | Quantity | Metric unit | % DV |
|
Nomenclature "Serving Size (naming the serving size)", "Serving (naming the serving size) " or "Per (naming the serving size)" Units (a) in the case of a single-serving prepackaged product, (1) per package, and (2) in grams or millilitres, in accordance with subparagraph B.01.002A(2)(a)(i) or (ii); and (b) in the case of a multiple-serving pre-packaged product, in the following units set out in column 3B of the Table of Reference Amounts: (1) the household measure that applies to the product, and (2) the metric measure that applies to the product. |
(1) The size in metric units is rounded off: (a) if less than 10 g or 10 mL, to the nearest multiple of 0.1 g or 0.1 mL (b) if 10 g or 10 mL or more, to the nearest multiple of 1 g or 1 mL (2) The size when expressed as a fraction is represented by a numerator and a denominator separated by a line. (3) The size shall include the word "assorted" if the information in the Nutrition Facts table of a prepackaged product that contains an assortment of foods is set out as a composite value (for example, "Per 5 assorted candies (15 g)"). |
< 10 g or mL | multiple of 0.1 g or mL | |
| ≥ 10 g or mL | multiple of 1 g or mL | |||
2. Energy value Nomenclature "Calories", "Total Calories" or "Calories, Total" Units Calories per serving of stated size |
The value is rounded off (a) when less than 5 Calories (i) if the product meets the conditions set out in column 2 of item 1 of the table to B.01.513 for the subject "free of energy", set out in column 1, to "0" Calorie, and (ii) in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 1 Calorie (b) when 5 to 50 Calories, to the nearest multiple of 5 Calories, and (c) when more than 50 Calories, to the nearest multiple of 10 Calories |
< 5 Calories, meets "Calorie-free" | 0 Calories | |
| < 5 Calories, all other cases | nearest 1 Calorie | |||
| ≥ 5 to ≤ 50 Calories | nearest 5 Calories | |||
| > 50 Calories | nearest 10 Calories | |||
3. Amount of fat Nomenclature "Fat", "Total Fat" or "Fat, Total" Units (1) grams per serving of stated size, and (2) percentage of the daily value per serving of stated size |
(1) The amount in grams is rounded off: (a) when less than 0.5 g (i) if the product meets the conditions set out in column 2 of item 11 of the table following B.01.513 for the subject "free of fat" set out in column 1 and the amounts of saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids are declared as "0" in the Nutrition Facts table or are omitted from that table in accordance with subsection B.01.401(6) and no other fatty acids are declared in an amount greater than "0", to "0 g" (ii) and in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 0.1 g (b) when 0.5 g to 5 g, to the nearest multiple of 0.5 g, and (c) when more than 5 g, to the nearest multiple of 1 g (2) The percentage is rounded off: (a) when the amount is declared as "0 g", to "0 %", and (b) in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 1 % |
Fat free: < 0.5 g and meets "free of fat" Saturated free: < 0.5 g and meets "sat free" Trans free: < 0.5 g and meets "trans free" |
0 g | 0 % |
| < 0.5 g, all other cases | nearest 0.1 g | nearest 1 % | ||
| ≥ 0.5 g to ≤ 5 g | nearest 0.5 g | nearest 1 % | ||
| > 5 g | nearest 1 g | nearest 1 % | ||
4. Amount of saturated fatty acids Nomenclature "Saturated Fat", "Saturated Fatty Acids", "Saturated" or "Saturates" Units grams per serving of stated size |
The amount is rounded off (a) when less than 0.5 g (i) if the product meets the conditions set out in column 2 of item 18 of the table following B.01.513 for the subject "free of saturated fatty acids" set out in column 1, to "0 g", and (ii) in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 0.1 g (b) when 0.5 g to 5 g, to the nearest multiple of 0.5 g, and (c) when more than 5 g, to the nearest multiple of 1 g |
Saturated free: < 0.5 g and meets "sat free" | 0 g | |
| < 0.5 g, all other cases | nearest 0.1 g | |||
| ≥ 0.5 g to ≤ 5 g | nearest 0.5 g | |||
| > 5 g | nearest 1 g | |||
5. Amount of trans fatty acids Nomenclature "Trans Fat", "Trans Fatty Acids" or "Trans" Units grams per serving of stated size |
The amount is rounded off (a) when less than 0.5 g (i) if the product meets the conditions set out in column 2 of item 22 of the table following B.01.513 for the subject "free of trans fatty acids" set out in column 1, to "0 g", and (ii) in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 0.1 g (b) when 0.5 g to 5 g, to the nearest multiple of 0.5 g, and (c) when more than 5 g, to the nearest multiple of 1 g |
Trans free: < 0.5 g and meets "trans free" | 0 g | |
| < 0.5 g, all other cases | nearest 0.1 g | |||
| ≥ 0.5 g to ≤ 5 g | nearest 0.5 g | |||
| > 5 g | nearest 1 g | |||
6. The sum of saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids Nomenclature "Saturated Fat + Trans Fat", "Saturated Fatty Acids + Trans Fatty Acids", "Saturated + Trans" or "Saturates + Trans" Units percentage of the daily value per serving of stated size |
The percentage is rounded off (a) when the amounts of saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids are declared as "0 g", to "0 %", and (b) in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 1 % |
< 0.5 g and meets "sat free" and "trans free" | 0 % | |
| all other cases | nearest 1 % | |||
7. Amount of cholesterol Nomenclature "Cholesterol" Units (1) milligrams per serving of stated size, and (2) (optional) expressed as a percentage of the daily value per serving of stated size |
(1) The amount in milligrams is rounded off: (a) if the product meets the conditions set out in column 2 of item 27 of the table following B.01.513 for the subject "free of cholesterol" set out in column 1, to "0 mg", and (b) in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 5 mg (2) The percentage is rounded off: (a) when the amount is declared as "0 mg" to "0 %", and (b) in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 1 % |
< 2 mg and meets "free of cholesterol" | 0 mg | 0 % (optional) |
| all other cases | nearest 5 mg | nearest 1 % (optional) | ||
8. Amount of sodium Nomenclature "Sodium" Units (1) milligrams per serving of stated size, and (2) percentage of the daily value per serving of stated size |
(1) The amount in milligrams is rounded off: (a) when less than 5 mg (i) if the product meets the conditions set out in column 2 of item 31 of the table following B.01.513 for the subject "free of sodium or salt" set out in column 1, to "0 mg", and (ii) in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 1 mg (b) when 5 mg to 140 mg, to the nearest multiple of 5 mg, and (c) when greater than 140 mg, to the nearest multiple of 10 mg (2) The percentage is rounded off: (a) when the amount is declared as "0 mg", to "0 %", and (b) in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 1 % |
< 5 mg and meets "free of sodium or salt" | 0 mg | 0 % |
| < 5 mg, all other cases | nearest 1 mg | nearest 1 % | ||
| ≥ 5 mg to ≤ 140 mg | nearest 5 mg | nearest 1 % | ||
| > 140 mg | nearest 10 mg | nearest 1 % | ||
9. Amount of carbohydrate Nomenclature "Carbohydrate", "Total Carbohydrate" or "Carbohydrate, Total" Units grams per serving of stated size |
The amount is rounded off (a) when less than 0.5 g, to "0 g", and (b) when 0.5 g or more, to the nearest multiple of 1 g |
< 0.5 g | 0 g | |
| ≥ 0.5 g | nearest 1 g | |||
10. Amount of fibre Nomenclature "Fibre", "Fiber", "Dietary Fibre" or "Dietary Fiber" Units (1) grams per serving of stated size, and (2) percentage of the daily value per serving of stated size |
(1) The amount in grams is rounded off: (a) when less than 0.5 g, to "0 g", and (b) when 0.5 g or more, to the nearest multiple of 1 g (2) The percentage is rounded off: (a) if the amount is declared as "0 g", to "0 %", and (b) in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 1 % |
< 0.5 g | 0 g | 0 % |
| ≥ 0.5 g | nearest 1 g | nearest 1 % | ||
11. Amount of sugars Nomenclature "Sugars" Units (1) grams per serving of stated size, and (2) percentage of the daily value per serving of stated size |
(1)The amount in grams is rounded off: (a) when less than 0.5 g, to "0 g", and (b) when 0.5 g or more, to the nearest multiple of 1 g (2) The percentage is rounded off: (a) if the amount is declared as "0 g", to "0 %", and (b) in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 1 % |
< 0.5 g | 0 g | 0 % |
| ≥ 0.5 g | nearest 1 g | nearest 1 % | ||
12. Amount of protein Nomenclature "Protein" Units grams per serving of stated size |
The amount is rounded off (a) when less than 0.5 g, to the nearest multiple of 0.1 g, and (b) when 0.5 g or more, to the nearest multiple of 1 g |
< 0.5 g | nearest 0.1 g | |
| ≥ 0.5 g | nearest 1 g | |||
13. Amount of potassium Nomenclature "Potassium" Units (1) milligrams per serving of stated size, and (2) percentage of the daily value per serving of stated size |
(1) The amount in milligrams is rounded off: (a) when less than 5 mg, to "0 mg" (b) when 5 mg or more and less than 50 mg, to the nearest multiple of 10 mg c) when 50 mg or more and less than 250 mg, to the nearest multiple of 25 mg d) when 250 mg or more, to the nearest multiple of 50 mg (2) The percentage is rounded off: (a) if the amount is declared as "0 mg", to "0 %", and (b) in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 1 % |
< 5 mg | 0 mg | 0 % |
| ≥ 5 mg to < 50 mg | nearest 10 mg | nearest 1 % | ||
| ≥ 50 mg to < 250 mg | nearest 25 mg | nearest 1 % | ||
| ≥ 250 mg | nearest 50 mg | nearest 1 % | ||
14. Amount of calcium Nomenclature "Calcium" Units (1) milligrams per serving of stated size, and (2) percentage of the daily value per serving of stated size |
(1) The amount in milligrams is rounded off: (a) when less than 5 mg, to "0 mg" (b) when 5 mg or more and less than 50 mg, to the nearest multiple of 10 mg c) when 50 mg or more and less than 250 mg, to the nearest multiple of 25 mg d) when 250 mg or more, to the nearest multiple of 50 mg (2) The percentage is rounded off: (a) if the amount is declared as "0 mg", to "0 %", and (b) in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 1 % |
< 5 mg | 0 mg | 0 % |
| ≥ 5 mg to < 50 mg | nearest 10 mg | nearest 1 % | ||
| ≥ 50 mg to < 250 mg | nearest 25 mg | nearest 1 % | ||
| ≥ 250 mg | nearest 50 mg | nearest 1 % | ||
15. Amount of iron Nomenclature "Iron" Units (1) milligrams per serving of stated size, and (2) percentage of the daily value per serving of stated size |
(1) The amount in milligrams is rounded off: (a) when less than 0.05 mg, to "0 mg" (b) when 0.05 mg or more and less than 0.5 mg, to the nearest multiple of 0.1 mg c) when 0.5 mg or more and less than 2.5 mg, to the nearest multiple of 0.25 mg d) when 2.5 mg or more, to the nearest multiple of 0.5 mg (2) The percentage is rounded off: (a) if the amount is declared as "0 mg", to "0 %", and (b) in all other cases, to the nearest multiple of 1 % |
< 0.05 mg | 0 mg | 0 % |
| ≥ 0.05 mg to < 0.5 mg | nearest 0.1 mg | nearest 1 % | ||
| ≥ 0.5 mg to < 2.5 mg | nearest 0.25 mg | nearest 1 % | ||
| ≥ 2.5 mg | nearest 0.5 mg | nearest 1 % | ||
16. % Daily Value interpretative statement Nomenclature "*5% or less is a little, 15% or more is a lot" |
The "% Daily Value" or "% DV" subheading is followed by an asterisk in order to reference the % Daily Value interpretative statement shown in the Nutrition Facts table | |||
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