Canada’s front-of-package nutrition labels.
A new standard.
Canada’s food industry is undergoing a significant transformation with the introduction of new front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling regulations. As a wholesaler of flexible plastic packaging, we understand the impact these changes will have on food producers. Here’s a concise overview of why these changes are happening, their benefits, and the challenges you may face.
Why the change?
Health Canada’s new FOP labels is looking to fight rising rates of diet-related illnesses like obesity and diabetes. These labels will make it easier for consumers to see when products are high in sodium, sugars, and saturated fat, promoting healthier eating habits with higher attention to nutritional information.
Benefits of the new FOP labels.
Improved consumer awareness.
Consumers will have clearer, more immediate access to critical nutritional information, which can help them make healthier food choices more easily. It can also be used by health professionals to educate consumers about goods high in sodium, sugars, and fats.
Encouragement for healthier products.
Customers will be prompted with health-related labelling in deciding their food choices. It’s possible that food manufacturers may reformulate products to avoid labeling with high fats and sugars or will formulate alternative versions.
Greater transparency.
The new labels create trust between producers and consumers by providing transparent, easy-to-understand nutritional information, enabling consumers to make more informed decisions about their dietary choices, and fostering a sense of accountability from producers to deliver quality products.
Challenges for Canadian food producers.
Compliance and inventory management.
Food producers need to ensure that your products meet the new labeling requirements by the deadline on January 1, 2026, which may be a challenge with evolving regulations in different countries. Adjustments across the packaging supply chain and managing inventory of new and old packaging will be vital.
Packaging redesign.
Food producers will need to update packaging to incorporate new icons and information will involve additional design and printing costs. It’s important to plan ahead with designers to rework artwork placement to account for these labels, as they do take up a sizeable portion of the packaging.
Consumer adaptation.
There may be initial confusion or changes in behavior from consumers. Clear marketing and education efforts will be crucial to address this and maintain product appeal as the new packaging begins to roll out, ensuring a smooth transition and helping consumers quickly adjust to the updated labels.
Exemptions.
The front-of-package nutrition symbol is mandatory for prepackaged foods that meet or exceed certain levels of sodium, sugars, or saturated fat.
However, there are some exceptions that do not need this labelling, including:
- Technical reasons, such as:
- Individually packaged portions meant for restaurants to accompany foods (e.g., crackers with soup or creamer served with a cup of coffee).
- Milk and cream in refillable glass containers.
- Foods in very small packages.
- Raw, single ingredient whole cuts of meat, poultry, and fish without a nutrition facts table.
- Fruits and vegetables without added sodium, sugars, or saturated fat.
- Certain dairy products (e.g., plain milk, yogurt, cheese) due to their calcium content.
- Raw, single ingredient ground meats, poultry, and fish that don’t carry a nutrition label.
- Products used for the same purpose as butter, sugar, or salt, like vegetable oils, honey, or celery salt.
Wrapping up
While the new FOP labels present challenges, they also offer opportunities for better consumer engagement and healthier product offerings. Our experts in flexible plastic packaging can help answer questions, manage inventory for the change over, and help make sure your packaging stands out on the shelves.
Check out the Health Canada website for more information.
Share this post
Have a project in mind?
Get in touch today for a custom quote.