Canadian Food Regulations

21 Oct 2026

How to Substantiate Food Claims in Canada

Canadian Food Regulations, Food and BeverageCanadian food regulations, CFIA, claim substantiation, food claims, food health claims, food labelling, health canada, nutrient content claims

Food claims can help communicate a product’s benefits and give consumers a reason to choose it. But claims need to do more than sound appealing: they must also comply with applicable regulations. Claims should be truthful, specific and, most importantly, substantiated. In Canada, whether a claim is acceptable depends not…

24 Sep 2026

Plant-Based Meat Labelling Requirements in Canada: What You Need to Know

Canadian Food Regulations, Food and BeverageCanadian food labelling, food fortification, Meat Alternatives, nutrition facts table, plant-based foods, protein claims, simulated meat, simulated poultry, vegan claims, vegetarian claims

Under Canada’s Food and Drug Regulations (FDR), plant-based products designed to resemble meat or poultry—without containing actual meat, poultry, or fish—are classified as simulated meat or simulated poultry products. To sell these products compliantly in Canada, manufacturers must adhere to strict regulatory standards covering product common names, principal display panel…

15 Sep 2026

How are Protein Powders Regulated in Canada?

Canadian Food Regulations, Food and BeverageCanadian market entry, dietary supplements Canada, food regulations Canada, health canada, natural health products, NPN Canada, protein powder classification, protein powder labelling, protein powder regulations Canada, supplemented foods

Protein powders sold in Canada may be regulated as conventional foods, supplemented foods, or natural health products (NHPs). The correct pathway depends on the finished product’s composition, representation, format, and history of use. It cannot be determined from the presence of protein or the powdered format alone. Classification is the starting point for…

07 Sep 2026

Health Canada Introduces Interim Policy for Unenriched White Flour in Certain Foods

Canadian Food RegulationsCFIA, flour enrichment, food compliance, food fortification, Food ingredients, food manufacturing, food regulations Canada, health canada, unenriched white flour

Health Canada has introduced an interim policy that provides targeted flexibility for the import and sale of unenriched white flour used in the manufacture of certain foods. Published on August 31, 2026, the policy is intended to reduce regulatory burden in situations where white flour is used in relatively small…

02 Sep 2026

How Are Prebiotic Beverages Regulated in Canada?

Canadian Food Regulations, Food and BeverageCanadian food regulations, corn masa flour, folic acid fortification, food fortification, food labelling, food regulatory compliance, fortified foods, health canada, infant formula, Interim Marketing Authorizations, plant-based beverages, vitamin A

Prebiotic products are becoming a familiar part of the Canadian market, appearing in everything from sparkling beverages and functional waters to powders, gummies, and capsules. Many contain ingredients such as inulin, fructooligosaccharides (FOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), resistant dextrin, and other fermentable or non-digestible carbohydrates. As these products become more varied, the regulatory pathway can become less obvious. For…

31 Aug 2026

Canada Updates Caffeinated Beverage Rules

Canadian Food Regulations, Supplemented Foodsbeverage formulation, beverage labelling, caffeinated beverages, caffeine regulations, Canadian food regulations, health canada, supplemental ingredients, Supplemented Food Facts table, supplemented foods

Health Canada has modified the List of Permitted Supplemental Ingredients to allow certain caffeinated supplemented beverages to contain up to 30% fruit and/or vegetable juice, purée, pulp or nectar. The change took effect on August 13, 2026, and expands formulation flexibility for eligible beverage manufacturers. However, restrictions on how these products may be represented and labelled remain in place. …

24 Aug 2026

Health Canada Updates Food Fortification Policy: What Changed in August 2026

Canadian Food Regulations, Food and BeverageCanadian food regulations, corn masa flour, folic acid fortification, food fortification, food labelling, food regulatory compliance, fortified foods, health canada, infant formula, Interim Marketing Authorizations, plant-based beverages, vitamin A

Policy revised August 2026 On August 20, 2026, Health Canada has revised its Interim Policy on the Use of Expired Interim Marketing Authorizations Related to Food Fortification, introducing two changes that may affect the formulation and Canadian market strategy of certain fortified foods. The August 2026 update: extends the existing corn meal fortification framework to corn masa…

18 Aug 2026

How to Comply with New Front-of-Package (FOP) Nutrition Label Requirements for Foods in Canada

Food and Beverage, Front-of-Pack (FOP) LabellingCanada Food Regulations, canada foods, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Food Labeling, food labelling, Food Packaging, Packaging Compliance

Front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labelling is a major regulatory initiative introduced by Health Canada to support healthier food choices among Canadians. This labelling requirement mandates a standardized nutrition symbol on prepackaged foods that are high in saturated fat, sugars, or sodium, which are nutrients commonly linked to chronic illnesses such as…

18 Aug 2026

How Are Functional Beverages Regulated in Canada?

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Functional beverages, including sports drinks, energy drinks, protein beverages, and probiotic drinks, are among the fastest-growing product categories in Canada. While these products may sometimes appear similar on the shelf, they do not always fall under the same regulatory framework. A common misconception is that regulatory classification is determined solely by the functional beverage's ingredients. In reality, when classifying a product, Health Canada…

11 Aug 2026

Which Nutrition Facts Table (NFt) Format Does Your Product Need in Canada?

Canadian Food Regulations, Food and BeverageADS, Available Display Surface, bilingual labelling, Canadian food labelling, Canadian Nutrition Facts Table, Food and Drug Regulations, food labels, NFt, Nutrition Facts Table Canada

This article explains how to determine which Canadian Nutrition Facts table (NFt) format applies to a prepackaged food product, including when an NFt is required, how exemptions may be lost, how available display surface (ADS) affects format selection, and why bilingual, simplified, dual, aggregate, and small-package requirements must be reviewed…