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Section G - Nutrition Facts Tables for Children Under Two Years of Age

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1. Presentation of Core and Additional Information

Basic Core Information		Additional Information
[D] Figure 20	Nutrients in the top part of the NFT, from Calories to protein, are declared in absolute values only (Calories, g, mg). Nutrients in the bottom part of the NFT (vitamins & minerals) are declared in % DV only. Nutrient values are "right justified" (i.e., line up against the right side of the box).	[D] Figure 33

2. When May These Formats Be Used?

All formats for children under two years of age may be used only on foods that are promoted and sold solely for children under two years of age. Products that are promoted for both young children and adults are not subject to the special provisions in the regulations that apply to food for children under two years of age, e.g., some brands of arrowroot cookies.

Prohibitions against the use of the nutrition facts table

The following foods are specifically prohibited from declaring a Nutrition Facts table:

• infant formula; and
• foods containing infant formula.

3. Major Labelling Differences

There are several major differences between nutrition information requirements for prepackaged food for consumers and prepackaged foods for children under two years of age [B.01.403].

• Nutrient declarations for nutrients listed in the top part of the Nutrition Facts table (from Calories to protein) are declared in absolute units only (Calories, g, mg). Percent Daily Values (% DV) are not declared for these nutrients.
• Certain nutrient declarations are not permitted: Calories from fat, Calories from saturates and trans fatty acids.
• Certain core nutrients may be omitted: saturated fatty acids, trans fatty acids and cholesterol.
• However, if cholesterol is declared then saturated and trans fatty acids must also be declared.
• Any footnotes linking the nutrient values to a 2,000 Calorie diet (see Schedule L, figure 18) are not permitted.
• The Nutrition Facts formats are modified to reflect these differences. For example, there are no Dual Formats for foods for children under 2 years of age.

Serving size

Although there is considerable variation in the manner of declaration of the serving size among the different Nutrition Facts table formats, there is always a requirement for the serving size to be declared for the product as sold. This serving is to be the amount of food that one person would reasonably eat at one eating occasion.

While the 2003 Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising provides a list of reasonable serving sizes for many foods, there are no recommended serving sizes or reference amounts for children under two years of age.

Permitted nutrient content claims for foods for children under two

The only nutrient content claims permitted on food solely for children under two years of age are those listed in column 4 to the table following Section B.01.513 for the following items [B.01.503] and claims for vitamins and minerals:

• "source of protein" (item 8 to the table following B.01.513);
• "excellent source of protein" (item 9 to the table following B.01.513);
• "more protein" (item 10 to the table following B.01.513);
• "no added sodium" (item 35 to the table following B.01.513);
• "no added sugars" (item 40 to the table following B.01.513);
• a representation of the amount of starch in a food [B.01.503 (2)(g)]; and
• claims for vitamins and minerals (D.01.004, D.02.002)

No other nutrient content claims are permitted except declarations of amounts of other nutrients not listed in B.01.401 or B.01.402 (e.g., amino acids).

4. Different NFT Formats for Foods for Children Under Two

Standard, Bilingual Horizontal, Linear Formats – Children Under Two

Presenting nutrition information on the basis of the food as sold (Standard, Horizontal or Linear formats) is appropriate for most foods.

However, these formats may not be used on an assortment of foods of the same type when:

• a serving consists of only one of the foods, and
• the information for the serving size, energy or core nutrients is different for the individual foods. (Note that an amendment of the Regulations is proposed. See below.*)

Simplified Formats – Children Under Two

The simplified formats may be used on foods whose nutrient value is "0", as reported in the NFT, for six or more of: Calories, fat, sodium, carbohydrates, fibre, sugars, protein, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium and iron.

Use of these formats is always optional.

Aggregate Format – Different Kinds of Foods – Children Under Two

These formats are appropriate for prepackaged products containing an assortment of foods of the same type, when:

• a serving consists of only one of the foods, and
• the information for the energy or core nutrients is different for the individual foods.

In these cases (e.g., a variety pack of baby food), use of the Aggregate Format – Different Kinds of Foods is mandatory [B.01.406(3)(a), B.01.463].*

* Health Canada is proposing to amend the Regulations. While this format is currently mandatory for assortments of similar foods that have different nutrient compositions (e.g., multi-packs), the proposed amendment would also allow manufacturers to use individual Standard Formats to present the nutrition information for each food within the assortment.

Aggregate Format – Different Amounts of Food – Children Under Two

These formats may be used whenever it is suitable to provide nutrition information for a food in more than one amount. For example, a serving of baby cookies might be one cookie or two.

The use of these formats is always optional.

Hierarchy of formats

Once a basic format type is chosen (Standard/Horizontal/ Linear, Simplified, Aggregate – Different Kinds of Foods, Aggregate – Different Amounts of Food), a step-by-step approach is taken to choosing an appropriate Nutrition Facts table.

The approach is exactly like that outlined in Section D of this Toolkit, "Has the Correct Format Been Used" A decision tree is provided for each format family.

The manufacturer must first review all of the options within the 1st (preferred) level. All of those options must be exhausted before the manufacturer may move to the 2nd level ... and so on. (See schematics).

Within the 1st level, the manufacturer may choose from among two options: the basic format and the bilingual format. In the case of the Standard/Horizontal/Linear family, a narrow standard option is also provided. Once an option is chosen, the manufacturer must select the largest version (size) of the format that will fit:

• on 15% or less of the ADS; and
• on one continuous surface of the package.

Larger versions of a format may always be used.

If no suitable fit is found in the 1st level, the manufacturer proceeds to the next level of options. In the case of the Standard/Horizontal/Linear family and the Simplified families, a middle level exists that provides Bilingual Horizontal formats. The same rules apply to choosing the appropriate size of NFT at this level.

However, in the lowest level options (the 2nd level for the Aggregate families and the 3rd level for the Standard/Horizontal/Linear and Simplified families), it is no longer mandatory to use the largest option. Any format or any version of a format may be chosen.

Hierarchy of Formats

Standard, Horizontal, Linear Formats – Children Under Two
(B.01.461)

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[D]

Hierarchy of Formats

Simplified Formats – Children Under Two
(B.01.462)

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[D]

Hierarchy of Formats

Aggregate Format – Different Kinds of Foods – Children Under Two (B.01.463)

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[D]

* Alternative Methods of Presentation may be used only for prepackaged products containing an assortment of foods of the same type, when:

• a serving consists of only one of the foods, and
• the information for the serving size, energy or core nutrients is different for the individual foods.

Hierarchy of Formats

Aggregate Format – Different Amounts of Food – Children Under Two
(B.01.464)

Click here for larger image

[D]

Table of Contents | Section A | Section B | Section C | Section D | Section E |
Section F | Section G | Section H | Section I | Section J | Section K