Canada’s Front-of-Pack Nutrition Labels: What You Need to Know Before 2026

In January 2026, a major regulation change will take effect for food and beverage products sold in Canada. Health Canada is making Front-of-Package (FOP) nutrition labeling mandatory on most prepackaged foods that are high in saturated fat, sugars, or sodium.

If you’re formulating for the Canadian market, the countdown is on — and the rules are precise. That’s why we’re excited to announce that Canada FOP nutrition labeling is live on the ENTR platform.

Below, we break down what’s required, when it’s enforced, and how to stay compliant without losing momentum in development.

What Is Canada’s FOP Labeling Rule?

Starting January 1, 2026, most prepackaged foods in Canada that exceed specified thresholds for saturated fat, sugars, or sodium will be required to display a standardized front-of-package (FOP) nutrition symbol.

This symbol is designed to help consumers quickly identify products high in these nutrients and support public health decisions around chronic disease prevention.

The format includes:

• A black and white magnifying glass icon
• Labels like “High in Saturated Fat,” “High in Sugars,” or “High in Sodium” (or combinations thereof)
• Unilingual or Bilingual labeling (ex: English/French), with “Health Canada / Santé Canada” printed underneath

You can read more about the official design formats here.

Who Needs to Display the FOP Symbol?

A product requires an FOP symbol if it meets or exceeds a percentage of the Daily Value (DV) for any of the three target nutrients. The thresholds depend on product type and reference amount:

Example categories that may require a symbol:

• Deli meats
• Frozen meals
• Salad dressings
• Sweetened cereals
• Cookies or puddings
• Snack foods and side dishes

Note: The assessment is based on the greater of serving size or reference amount, not just what appears on your label.

Key Compliance Details

The regulation specifies not just whether you need a symbol, but exactly how it must appear:

• Location: Top half of the principal display panel (PDP); right-hand side if label is wider than tall
• Size: Proportional to PDP size, with detailed layout rules
• Language: English, French, or both, depending on packaging
• Format: Must match official symbol templates, which vary for unilingual/bilingual, horizontal/vertical layouts

You can view the complete layout guidance and sizing tables here.

Are There Any Exemptions?

Yes. Health Canada outlines three categories of exemptions:

1. Health-related exemptions: Such as whole fruits/vegetables, plain milk, nuts, oils, fatty fish
2. Technical exemptions: Such as raw single-ingredient meat, foods sold at farmers' markets, and very small packages
3. Practical exemptions: Such as honey, salt, butter, and other foods where a label would be redundant

Certain foods (like infant formula and medical nutrition products) are prohibited from displaying the symbol altogether. You can view the full list of exemptions here.

How ENTR Helps You Stay Compliant

ENTR supports full FOP labeling logic and export formats, helping you:

• Automatically assess whether your product meets or exceeds the FOP thresholds.
• Visualize what symbol would be required (if any), based on serving size and reference amount
• Export bilingual, regulation-compliant FOP nutrition symbols

Whether you're adjusting a sodium-heavy soup or launching a better-for-you frozen entrée, ENTR helps you prepare confidently for January 2026.

Interested in learning more? Contact us, and we’ll walk you through the new setup.

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