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bullet Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising

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 Section V: Nutrition Labelling

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 Section VI: Nutrient Content Claims

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 Section VII: Health-Related Claims

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising

Section VI: Nutrient Content Claims
Section 6.2.3

Sections 6.1 to 6.1.9 | Sections 6.1.10 to 6.1.11.3 | Section 6.2.1 | Section 6.2.2 | Section 6.2.3
Section 6.2.4 | Section 6.2.5 | Section 6.2.6 | Section 6.3 | Section 6.4 | Annexes 1 - 3

6.2.3 Fat, Fatty Acids and Cholesterol

6.2.3.1 How to Declare Fat, Fatty Acids and Cholesterol (Amended 10/06/97)

Fat and related substances follow protein in the nutrition labelling format. Fat should be calculated as total lipid fatty acids expressed as triglycerides.

Fat and fatty acids should be expressed in grams and cholesterol in milligrams per serving of stated size, and should be rounded to the nearest whole number for quantities of 10 g or more, and to the nearest tenth of a gram for quantities less than 10 g. Cholesterol should be rounded to the nearest milligram (i.e., 0.4 mg cholesterol would be declared as 0 mg, 0.6 mg cholesterol would be declared as 1 mg). If no fat or fat components are present, their absence should be indicated by a zero.

Polyunsaturates, as defined by the Food and Drug Regulations, refer only to cis-methylene interrupted polyunsaturated fatty acids, and monounsaturates refer only to cis-monounsaturated fatty acids (B.01.303).

6.2.3.2 Claims for Fatty Acids and Cholesterol

The claims "low-fat", "low-cholesterol", "cholesterol-free" and "low in saturated fatty acids" are controlled by the Regulations. For other fat and fatty acid claims, including "a source of polyunsaturates", "source of linoleic acid", "fat-free", "saturated fat-free" criteria are the subject of guidelines. Criteria for fatty acid and cholesterol claims take into consideration:

  1. the recommended intake of linoleic acid and of saturated fatty acids in the Nutrition Recommendations for Canadians,and
  2. the distribution of fatty acids in food sources.

Criteria for fat claims are given in Sections 6.1.2, 6.1.5, 6.1.6 and 6.1.7.

If a statement or a claim is made for any one of these fat components -- polyunsaturates, monounsaturates, saturates or cholesterol -- all four plus total fat must be declared (B.01.303). When linoleic acid is declared, the above four components plus total fat must also be declared (B.01.306). Statements or claims regarding specifically-named fatty acids, other than linoleic acid, or of groups of fatty acids are not permitted.  Temporary Marketing Authorization Letters (B.01.054) have been issued by the Health Products and Food Branch (formerly Health Protection Branch) of Health Canada for claims relating to trans-fatty acids and omega-3 fatty acids on certain products.

The mandatory percent fat declaration on dairy products does not trigger a fat declaration in grams.

The order of declaration of fat, fatty acids and cholesterol is as follows:

NUTRITION INFORMATION NUTRITIONNELLE

per x g or ml serving
(x cups, items, etc.)
par portion de x g ou ml
(x tasses, unités, etc.)

Energy/Énergie x kJ
x Cal
Protein/Protéines x g
Fat/Matières grasses x g
polyunsaturates/polyinsaturés x g
linoleic acid/acide linoléique x g
monounsaturates/monoinsaturés x g
cholesterol/cholestérol x mg
Carbohydrate/Glucides x g

6.2.3.3 Summary Table of Fat Claims (Amended 10/06/97)

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

Claim

Compositional Requirements

Information Required on Label and Advertisement*:

a. "low-fat"

"low in fat"

"light in fat"

"lite in fat"

- less than or equal to 3 g fat/serving;

and
- less than or equal to 15 g fat/100 g of dry matter. (B.01.309)

- g fat/serving. (B.01.300)
b. "(%, fraction or quantity) less fat than (naming reference food)"

"lower in fat than..."

"reduced in fat"

Compared to the reference food it must have:
- greater than or equal to 25% less fat;

and
- greater than or equal to 1.5 g less fat/serving;

and
- no increase in energy.

- g fat/serving. (B.01.300)

and
(the %, fraction or number of grams) less fat than (naming the reference food) to be either:
a) part of, or grouped with the most prominent claim that the food is reduced in fat;

or
b) clearly linked to this claim:
i) on the principal display panel when the claim is made on the label;
and
ii) in the advertisement when the claim is made in the advertisement.

c. "fat-free"

"contains no fat"

"very low fat"

"free of fat"

"ultra low fat"

- <0.5 g fat per reference amount and per serving

- <0.5 grams of fat per serving in the case of a pre-packaged meal and a main dish entrée where no reference amount is indicated.

- g fat/serving. (B.01.300)
d. "light"

"lite"

"light (naming the common or brand name)"

"lite (naming the common or brand name)"

In general, these claims cannot be used without further qualification. The food must meet the compositional requirements of:
- a low-fat food as described in a);

or
- a food containing less fat than the reference food as in b);

or
- a fat-free food as described in c).

Must meet corresponding label and advertisement requirements of a), b), or c), EXCEPT in an advertisement these claims may be used without further qualification provided that:
- all required information is on the label

and
- no other nutrition statement or claim is made in the advertisement.

e. "lean" (for all species of ground meat and poultry) - less than or equal to 17% fat. ---
f. "extra lean" (for all species of ground meat and poultry) - less than or equal to 10% fat. ---
g. "lean" (for all other meat, poultry, fish and shellfish) - less than or equal to 10% fat. - g fat/serving. (B.01.300)
h. "extra lean" (for all other meat, poultry, fish and shellfish) - less than or equal to 7.5% fat. - g fat/serving. (B.01.300)

* 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.

6.2.3.4 Summary Table of Fatty Acid Claims

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

Claim

Compositional Requirements

Information Required on Label and Advertisement*:

a. "source of" or

"contains polyunsaturates (or polyunsaturated fats, or polyunsaturated fatty acids)"

- greater than or equal to 2 g polyunsaturates/serving.

and
- less than or equal to 15 g fat/100 g of dry matter. (B.01.309)

- total fat, polyunsaturates, monounsaturates and saturates in g/serving and cholesterol in mg/serving. (B.01.303)
b. "(%, fraction or quantity) more polyunsaturates than (naming the reference food)"

"higher in polyunsaturates than (naming the reference food)"

Compared to the reference food it must have:
- greater than or equal to 25% more polyunsaturates;

and
- greater than or equal to 0.5 g more polyunsaturates/serving.

- total fat, polyunsaturates, monounsaturates and saturates in g/serving and cholesterol in mg/serving; (B.01.303)

and
- (the %, fraction or number of grams) more polyunsaturates than (naming the reference food) to be either:
a) part of, or grouped with the most prominent claim that the food is higher in polyunsaturates;

or
b) clearly linked to this claim:
i) on the principal display panel when the claim is made on the label;
and
ii) in the advertisement when the claim is made in the advertisement.

c. "source of linoleic acid" "contains linoleic acid" - greater than or equal to 2 g linoleic acid/serving. - total fat, polyunsaturates, linoleic acid, monounsaturates and saturates in g/serving and cholesterol in mg/serving. [B.01.306(2)]
d. "source of" or

"contains monounsaturates (or monounsaturated fats, or monounsaturated fatty acids)"

- greater than or equal to 2 g monounsaturates/serving. - total fat, polyunsaturates, monounsaturates and saturates in g/serving and cholesterol in mg/serving. (B.01.303)
e. "low in saturated fatty acids (or saturates, or saturated fats)" - less than or equal to 2 g saturated fatty acids/serving.

and
- less than or equal to 15% of energy value from saturated fatty acids. (B.01.306.1)

- total fat, polyunsaturates, monounsaturates and saturates in g/serving and cholesterol in mg/serving. (B.01.303)
f. "free of saturated fatty acids (or saturates or saturated fats)" - less than or equal to 0.1 g saturated fatty acids/100 g.

and
- less than or equal to 15% of energy value from saturated fatty acids. (B.01.306.1)

- total fat, polyunsaturates, monounsaturates and saturates in g/serving and cholesterol in mg/serving. (B.01.303)
g. "(%, fraction or quantity) less saturated fat than (naming the reference food)"

"lower in saturates than (naming the reference food)"

"reduced in saturates"

Compared to the reference food it must have:
- greater than or equal to 25% less saturates;

and
- greater than or equal to 1 g less saturates/serving.

- total fat, polyunsaturates, monounsaturates and saturates in g/serving and cholesterol in mg/serving; (B.01.303)

and
- (the %, fraction or number of grams) less saturates than (naming the reference food) to be either:
a) part of, or grouped with the most prominent claim that the food is lower in saturates;

or
b) clearly linked to this claim:
i) on the principal display panel when the claim is made on the label;
and
ii) in the advertisement when the claim is made in the advertisement.

* 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.

6.2.3.5 Summary Table of Cholesterol Claims

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

Claim

Compositional Requirements

Information Required on Label and Advertisement*:

a. "low-cholesterol"

"low in cholesterol"

"light in cholesterol"

"lite in cholesterol"

- less than or equal to 20 mg cholesterol/100 g AND per serving;

and
- less than or equal to 15% of energy value from saturated fatty acids;

and
- less than or equal to 2 g saturated fatty acids/serving. (B.01.307)

- total fat, polyunsaturates, monounsaturates and saturates in g/serving and cholesterol in mg/serving. (B.01.303)
b. "cholesterol-free"

"free of cholesterol"

"no cholesterol"

- less than or equal to 3 mg cholesterol/100 g;

and
- less than or equal to 15% of energy value from saturated fatty acids;

and
- less than or equal to 2 g saturated fatty acids/serving. (B.01.308)

- total fat, polyunsaturates, monounsaturates and saturates in g/serving and cholesterol in mg/serving. (B.01.303)
c. "(%, fraction or quantity) less cholesterol than (naming the reference food)"

"lower in cholesterol than..."

"reduced in cholesterol"

Compared to the reference food it must have:
- greater than or equal to 25% less cholesterol;

and
- greater than or equal to 20 mg less cholesterol/serving;

and
- greater than or equal to 25% less saturated fat;

and
- greater than or equal to 1 g less saturated fat/serving.

- total fat, polyunsaturates, monounsaturates and saturates in g/serving and cholesterol in mg/serving; (B.01.303)

and
-(the %, fraction or number of milligrams) less cholesterol than (naming the reference food) to be either:
a) part of or grouped with the most prominent claim that the food is reduced in cholesterol

or
b) clearly linked to this claim:
i) on the principal display panel when the claim is made on the label;
and
ii) in the advertisement when the claim is made in the advertisement.

d. "light"

"lite"

"light (naming the common or brand name)"

"lite (naming the common or brand name)"

In general, these claims cannot be used without further qualification. The food must meet the compositional requirements of:
- a low-cholesterol food as described in a);

or
- a cholesterol-free food as described in b);

or
- a food containing less cholesterol than the reference food as in c).

Must meet the corresponding label and/or advertisement requirements of a), b) or c) EXCEPT in an advertisement these claims may be used without further qualification provided that:
- all required information is on the label;

and
- no other nutrition statement or claim is made in the advertisement.

* 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.

Sections 6.1 to 6.1.9 | Sections 6.1.10 to 6.1.11.3 | Section 6.2.1 | Section 6.2.2 | Section 6.2.3
Section 6.2.4 | Section 6.2.5 | Section 6.2.6 | Section 6.3 | Section 6.4 | Annexes 1 - 3


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