Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising

Section VI: Nutrient Content Claims
Section 6.2.1

6.2.1 Energy

6.2.1.1 How to Declare Energy

Energy must be expressed in both Calories (Cal) and kilojoules (kJ) per serving of stated size (B.01.301), using the following conversions:

1 Calorie = 1 Cal = 1 kilocalorie = 4.184 kilojoules = 4.184 kJ

Calories should be rounded to the nearest whole number. Kilojoules should be rounded to the nearest 10 kJ for energy values of 10 kJ or more, and to the nearest kJ for energy values below 10 kJ.

6.2.1.2 Energy Claims

Foods provide energy to the body. The carbohydrate, fat, protein and alcohol in foods, when absorbed and utilized, provide energy for all body processes and muscle movement.

When a muscle contracts, it uses stored energy. After contraction the body replaces this energy so the muscle can contract again. Consuming a diet high in Calories does not assure that an individual will have lots of "pep" and "energy", since many factors, including the state of a person's health and physical fitness, have a major impact on how effectively and efficiently the muscles can use energy. Therefore, the popular concept of "energy" in the sense of being energetic, having pep, vigour, strength, endurance, etc., are not directly related to specific foods in the diet. For this reason, claims for the energy content of foods must be carefully phrased.

If used appropriately, the terms "energy", "food energy" and "quick food energy" are acceptable. Energy claims such as "helps provide food energy", "helps provide energy", "helps give a lift", "for people on the go", "helps give you go" or a simple declaration of the amount of Calories or kilojoules contributed by a stated serving of food or per 100 g or 100 ml of food, are acceptable and not misleading if the claims DO NOT imply that:

• the food in question provides "instant" pep, vitality, vigour, power or strength;
• the food provides all the food energy necessary to carry one through certain physical activities or recovery from these; ? the food provides all the energy necessary to carry one through until the next meal;
• that a food, consisting mainly of carbohydrate, provides food energy which lasts over many hours of hard work or play.

A claim to the effect that a food is "a source of energy" should not be made unless the food provides at least 100 Calories per serving of stated size.

6.2.1.3 Summary Table of Energy Claims

The following table provides a summary of the Regulations and guidelines pertaining to energy claims (see also Sections 6.1, 6.3 and 6.4).

* When claims are made on a label, unless otherwise specified, this information must appear on the label. For advertising claims, the required information must appear either in the advertisement or on the label.