Front of Package Labelling - Lower Calcium Threshold for FOP Exemption

On June 5th, 2024, Health Canada issued a Market Authorization revising the Front of Package (FOP) Labelling requirements. The update lowers the calcium threshold for products such as cheese, yogurt, kefir, and buttermilk at which the products are to be exempt from displaying a FOP nutrition symbol. These adjustments aim to provide consumers with clearer nutritional information while ensuring compliance with regulatory standards while considering calcium benefits.

Summary of the Changes:

In the Canada Gazette, Part II, Volume 158, Number 12, Health Canada published a Marketing Authorization that adjusts the thresholds for fully and conditionally exempt cheese, yogurt (including drinkable yogurt, kefir, and buttermilk) made from dairy products. The new threshold has been reduced to 5%, exempting these products from displaying a front-of-package "high in" symbol when they provide 5% or more of the daily value for calcium per reference amount.

This Marketing Authorization is intended to mitigate potential negative impacts on calcium intake that could result from Front of Package (FOP) Labelling, such as reduced intake of products high in calcium due to principal display labels with "high in" FOP labelling. During the initial introduction of the FOP nutrition labelling regulations for prepackaged foods, considerations were made for the impact on calcium intake, which allowed for a conditional FOP exemption for products meeting or exceeding 10% of the daily value for calcium, provided they did not contain added saturated fats or sugars. Additionally, cheeses were fully exempt from displaying a FOP symbol if their calcium content met or exceeded the daily value threshold, regardless of sodium content. The new changes maintain the same exemption conditions, however, the threshold for exemption is now 5% instead of 10%. A reference table comparing the exemptions and applicable threshold levels by reference amounts is included below.

These changes do not amend the current Food and Drug Regulations but can be used as additional guidance to determine the applicable regulations. Manufacturers can reference either of the documents in determining which threshold applies best to their products.

For additional information on the Market Authorization and stakeholders comments, please visit Marketing Authorization to Permit a Lower Calcium Threshold for Exemptions from the Requirement for Prepackaged Products to Carry a Nutrition Symbol in the Case of Cheese, Yogurt, Kefir and Buttermilk: SOR/2024-89.