What has to be on a label, allergens, dates, and what changed in 2026.
What must be on a food label in Canada?
For most prepackaged foods: the common name, net quantity, list of ingredients with allergens, the Nutrition Facts table, the name and principal place of business of the dealer, a best-before date where the food keeps 90 days or less, storage instructions where needed, and the front-of-package nutrition symbol where it applies. Mandatory information is generally in English and French.
The transition period for the front-of-package nutrition symbol ended on December 31, 2025. Prepackaged foods that meet Health Canada's thresholds for saturated fat, sugars or sodium, and aren't exempt, need the symbol if they were made, imported or packaged on or after January 1, 2026.
A black-and-white magnifying-glass symbol that says a food is high in saturated fat, sugars or sodium. It's triggered when one of those nutrients meets a threshold, 15% of the daily value for most foods and 10% for foods with a small reference amount, with other thresholds and exemptions set out by Health Canada.
Health Canada's priority food allergens are eggs, milk, mustard, peanuts, crustaceans and molluscs, fish, sesame seeds, soy, tree nuts, and wheat and triticale. Gluten sources and added sulphites at 10 ppm or more must also be declared, which is why lists of '11 priority allergens' often include sulphites.
Declare them in the list of ingredients by their common names, or in a 'Contains' statement right after the list. If you use a 'Contains' statement, it has to list every priority allergen, gluten source and added sulphite in the food, and it must appear in English and French.
Only when there's a real, unavoidable risk of cross-contamination after good manufacturing practices are in place. It's voluntary, it isn't a substitute for allergen controls, and CFIA recommends the wording 'May contain [allergen]'.
Generally yes: mandatory information on prepackaged food sold in Canada must be in English and French. There are limited exemptions, for example for some local foods, test-market foods and specialty foods, with conditions attached.
Yes, on prepackaged foods with a durable life of 90 days or less, with some exceptions. Food packaged at retail uses a 'packaged on' date with durable-life information instead. Certain foods, such as infant formula and meal replacements, need an expiration date.
Use the words 'best before' and 'meilleur avant', then the date with the year (when needed), the month as a bilingual abbreviation such as JA, FE, MR, AL, MA, JN, JL, AU, SE, OC, NO or DE, and the day. Add storage instructions when the food has to be kept other than at room temperature.
Typically 1 to 2 days with me, against the usual 3 to 5. My reviews are AI-powered, which also lowers the cost. Exact timing depends on the complexity of the package and the completeness of the product information.
Can you make a Nutrition Facts table for my product?
Yes, from your formulation or lab results, as a separate job or alongside a full label review. The table is only as accurate as the data behind it.
I'm a copacker. Can I get labels reviewed in bulk?
Yes, through NexLabel, the platform we run with the Nexsure team. It's built for volume, and can carry a product from brand guide and identity through to final packaging design.
Do you review the French text on bilingual labels?
Yes. Both languages are reviewed, with a French-language specialist involved when a label needs one.
General information, reviewed 2026-10-28. It isn't legal advice or a determination for your business; what applies depends on your products, activities and markets.
