Retail Food

At the retail level of trade, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency protects consumers from economic fraud and product misrepresentation, and assists them in making informed product choices. The CFIA's role in the retail sector also results in fair competition for industry.

CFIA activities include:

• establishing and enforcing standards for net quantity and labelling;
• establishing and enforcing standards for composition, substitution and adulteration;
  • e.g. excess fat in ground beef, or presence of non-permitted food additives; or
  • cod presented as haddock or olive oil with a cheaper vegetable oil added
• establishing and enforcing standards for advertising and product claims
• investigating consumer and trade complaints

Responsibility for food safety at the retail level is shared with provincial health units.

The key acts and regulations we enforce are:

• Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act
  • Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations
• Food and Drugs Act
  • Food and Drug Regulations

Information we provide for consumers includes:

• Date Labelling on Pre-packaged Foods

Information we provide for the food industry includes:

• Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising
  • Nutritional Labelling Information
• Information Bulletins
• Information for Restauranteurs and Food Service Operators
• Labelling Decisions
• Meat Cuts Manual