Canada’s front-of-pack nutrition labelling: Preparing for 2026
12 January 2026 | Josefine Hammerby, Regulatory Affairs Advisor
From 1 January 2026, Canada will require mandatory front of pack (FOP) nutrition labelling on prepackaged foods high in saturated fat, sugars or sodium. This change is designed to help consumers make healthier choices and will have significant implications for food businesses.
Background
In July 2022, Health Canada announced a landmark amendment to the Food and Drug Regulations that will reshape the way packaged foods are labelled. The measure introduces mandatory front of pack (FOP) nutrition symbols for products high in saturated fat, sugars or sodium.
The motivation behind this policy is rooted in public health as Canadians are facing increasing rates of diet related chronic diseases, and research consistently shows that clear, visible cues on packaging help consumers make healthier choices at a glance. The FOP nutrition symbol will complement the Nutrition Facts table.
The new requirements
On 1 January 2026, the regulation became mandatory and, from that date, prepackaged foods exceeding the thresholds for saturated fat, sugars or sodium must display the black and white FOP nutrition symbol prominently on the front of the package. At the same time, some nutrient content and health claims will no longer be permitted on products that require the symbol, limiting the ability of manufacturers to offset the warning with positive messaging.
Which foods are affected?
A crucial detail for businesses to understand is which foods will require the front of pack nutrition symbol, and which will be exempt.
Health Canada has made clear that the requirement applies to most prepackaged foods that already carry a Nutrition Facts table, provided they meet or exceed specific thresholds for saturated fat, sugars or sodium. These thresholds are expressed as a percentage of the daily value (DV) per reference amount (RA) or serving size, whichever is greater. For foods with an RA of 30g or less, the threshold is 10%. This goes up to 15% where the RA is between 30g and 200g, and again to 30% for prepackaged main dishes with an RA over 200g. Foods that are consumed as a main dish can be expected to make up more of the daily intake of nutrients, and therefore they have a higher threshold.
At the same time, Health Canada has carved out a series of exemptions covering foods with recognised protective benefits, certain dairy products, foods that do not require a Nutrition Facts table, and products where the symbol would be redundant, such as packages of sugar.
Implications
Food businesses seeking to reduce sodium, sugar or saturated fat levels, to avoid the mandatory symbol, may consider reformulation. Product positioning may also need to be reconsidered, particularly where claims are restricted.
Canada’s move toward mandatory FOP labelling reflects a global trend toward greater transparency in nutrition communication.
How we can help
If you’d like to find out more about how Canada’s FOP labelling requirements affect your product range or for any other assistance with Canadian labelling and translations, product composition or ingredient permissibility, please reach out.
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For support with how Canada’s FOP labelling requirements affect your product range or for any other assistance with labelling and translations, product composition or ingredient permissibility, please reach out.
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