The Nutrition Facts table

The next time you're shopping for food, use the Nutrition Facts table to help you choose healthier foods. By law, almost all packaged foods in Canada must have a Nutrition Facts table.

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What is the Nutrition Facts table?

The Nutrition Facts table gives you information on:

Did you know?

While it is mandatory to list the 13 core nutrients on the Nutrition Facts table, declaring the following nutrients is optional: folate, magnesium, niacin, phosphorous, potassium, riboflavin, selenium, thiamine, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin D, vitamin E, zinc, and other vitamins and minerals.

How to use the Nutrition Facts table

All of the information in the Nutrition Facts table is based on the serving size found at the top of the Nutrition Facts table.

Compare the serving size on the Nutrition Facts table to the amount of food you actually eat.

For example, if the serving size of bread on the Nutrition Facts table is one slice, but you eat two slices, you need to double the amounts listed on the Nutrition Facts table to understand how much of the nutrients and calories you are eating.

Learn more about how to compare and choose healthier foods when shopping.

Did you know?

Most Canadians use the Nutrition Facts table to:

  • Learn about a food's nutritional value (calories and nutrients).
  • See if a food contains a little (5% DV or less) or a lot (15% DV or more) of a nutrient.
  • Compare two products to make better food choices.
  • Better manage special diets (for example, a low-sodium diet).
  • Eat more or less of a nutrient.
Explore this interactive Nutrition Facts Table!
Select any item in the table to find out more...
Nutrition Facts
Per 3/4 cup (175g)
Amount % Daily Value
Calories 160
Fat 2.5 g 4 %
Saturated 1.5 g
+ Trans 0 g		 8 %
Cholesterol 10 mg
Sodium 75 mg 3 %
Carbohydrate 25 g 8 %
Fibre 0 g 0 %
Sugars 24 g
Protein 8 g
Vitamin A 2 %   Vitamin C 0 %
Calcium 20 %   Iron 0 %

Did you know?

The following foods do not need to have a Nutrition Facts table:

  • fresh vegetables and fruit
  • raw meat and poultry (except when it is ground)
  • raw seafood
  • foods prepared or processed in-store (bakery items, salads, etc.)
  • foods that contain very few nutrients such as coffee, tea, herbs, and spices
  • alcoholic beverages

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