Food labelling changes

We’re making improvements to the nutrition facts table and list of ingredients on food labels based on feedback from Canadians and stakeholders. The food industry has a transition period of 5 years to make these changes. This means that you might start seeing new food labels as early as 2017. Learn about these upcoming changes.

On this page

Nutrition facts table

The changes to the nutrition facts table include:

  • making the serving size more:
    • consistent  so that it’s easier to compare similar foods
    • realistic so that it reflects the amount that Canadians typically eat in one sitting
  • making the information on serving size and calories easier to find and read by:
    • increasing the font size of serving size and calories
    • adding a bold line under the calories
  • revising the % daily values based on updated science
  • adding a new % daily value for total sugars
  • updating the list of nutrients to:
    • add potassium because:
      • it’s important for maintaining healthy blood pressure
      • most Canadians are not getting enough of this nutrient
    • remove vitamin A and vitamin C because:
      • most Canadians get enough of these nutrients in their diets
  • adding the amounts in milligrams (mg) for potassium, calcium and iron
  • adding a footnote at the bottom of the table about % daily value
    • this will help consumers understand how much sugar and other nutrients (like sodium) are in their food and will explain that:
      • 5% or less is a little
      • 15% or more is a lot

Figure 1. Nutrition facts table changes.

Text Description below

Image description – Nutrition facts table changes (Figure 1)    

Shown here are two images of a Nutrition Facts table. The one on the left is the original Nutrition Facts table and the one on the right is the new Nutrition Facts table. There is explanatory text around the outside of the table with arrows pointing to the new changes within the table.

Following is a description of the original Nutrition Facts table.

Left justified at the top of the table is the heading Nutrition Facts and stacked below it is the heading Valeur nutritive. Both are in bold. The next line is Per 250 mL, forward slash, par 250 mL. There is a thick rule below the serving size information that spans the width of the table.

Left justified on the next line is the subheading Amount, in bold and right justified on the same line is the subheading percent symbol Daily Value, in bold. Stacked directly below the subheading "Amount" is Teneur, in bold.  Right justified on the same line is percent symbol valeur quotidienne also in bold. There is a thick rule below the subheadings that spans the width of the table. Note: this rule is not as thick as the one below the serving size information.

The next line is Calories, forward slash, Calories, in bold, followed by 110. There is a thin rule under the Calories information that spans the width of the table. Left justified on the next line is Fat, forward slash, Lipides, in bold, followed by 0 and a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is the number zero followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule below the fat information that spans the width of the table.

Indented on the next line is Saturated, forward slash, saturés followed by 0 and a lower case g. Indented on the next line is a plus symbol followed by Trans, forward slash, trans followed by 0 and a lowercase g. Right justified and vertically centered against the saturated and trans information on the left is 0 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule below the trans information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Cholesterol, forward slash, Cholestérol, in bold, followed by 0 and mg in lowercase. There is a thin rule under the cholesterol information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Sodium, forward slash, Sodium in bold followed by 0 and mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is 0 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule under the sodium information that spans the width of the table. The next line is Carbohydrate, forward slash, Glucides, in bold, followed by 26 and a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is 9 followed by a percent symbol.  There is a thin rule under the carbohydrate information that spans the width of the table.

Indented on the next line is Fibre, forward slash, Fibres, followed by 0 and a lowercase g.  Right justified on the same line is 0 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule under the fibre information that spans the width of the table. Indented on the next line is Sugars, forward slash, Sucres, followed by 22 and a lowercase g. There is a thin rule under the sugars information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Protein, forward slash, Protéines, in bold, followed by 2 and a lowercase g. There is a thick rule under the protein information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Vitamin A, forward slash, Vitamine A.  Right justified on the same line is 0 followed by a percent symbol.  There is a thin rule under the vitamin A information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Vitamin C, forward slash, Vitamine C. Right justified on the same line is 120 followed by a percent symbol.  There is a thin rule under the vitamin C information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Calcium, forward slash, Calcium. Right justified on the same line is 2 followed by a percent symbol.  There is a thin rule under the calcium information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Iron, forward slash, Fer. Right justified on the same line is 0 followed by a percent symbol.  This is the end of the original Nutrition Facts table description.

Next is a description of the new Nutrition Facts table which is pictured beside the original Nutrition Facts table.

Left justified at the top of the table is the heading Nutrition Facts and stacked below it is the heading Valeur nutritive. Both are in bold. The next line is Per 1 cup open parenthesis 250 mL close parenthesis. The next line is pour 1 tasse open parenthesis 250 mL close parenthesis. There is a thin rule below pour 1 tasse open parenthesis 250 mL close parenthesis that spans the width of the table. The next line is Calories in bold followed by 110, also in bold. Right justified on the same line is the subheading percent symbol Daily Value in bold. Stacked under this is percent symbol valeur quotidienne also in bold. Both Percent Daily Value and percent valeur quotidienne are followed by an asterisk that refers to a footnote at the bottom of the Nutrition Facts table. There is a thick rule under the Calories information that ends after the number 110.  It does not span the width of the table.

Left justified on the next line is Fat, forward slash, Lipides, in bold, followed by 0 and a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is the number zero followed by a percent symbol. Indented on the next line is Saturated, forward slash, saturés followed by 0 and a lower case g. Indented on the next line is a plus symbol followed by Trans, forward slash, trans followed by 0 and a lowercase g. Right justified and vertically centered against the saturated and trans information on the left is 0 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule below the trans information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Carbohydrate, forward slash, Glucides, in bold, followed by 26 and a lowercase g. Indented on the next line is Fibre, forward slash, Fibres, followed by 0 and a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for percent Daily Value of Fibre followed by 0 and a percent symbol. Indented on the next line is Sugars, forward slash, Sucres, followed by 22 and a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is the number 22 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule under the sugars information that spans the width of the table. The next line is Protein, forward slash, Protéines, in bold, followed by 2 and a lowercase g. There is a thin rule under the protein information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Cholesterol, forward slash, Cholestérol, in bold, followed by 0 and mg in lowercase. There is a thin rule under the cholesterol information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Sodium, in bold, followed by 0 and mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is 0 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thick rule under the sodium information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Potassium followed by 470 and mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is 10 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule under the potassium information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Calcium followed by 26 and mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is 2 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule below the calcium information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Iron, forward slash, Fer followed by 0 and mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is 0 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thick rule under the iron information that spans the width of the Nutrition Facts table. The next two lines is the percent Daily Value footnote that was referred to at the beginning of the table description. The footnote starts with an asterisk followed by the statement: 5 percent symbol or less is a little,15 percent symbol or more is a lot and on the second line is an asterisk followed by  the statement: 5 percent symbol ou moins c’est peu , 15 percent symbol ou plus c’est beaucoup. The terms ‘a little’, ‘a lot’, ‘peu’, and ‘beaucoup’ are in bold. This is the end of the new Nutrition Facts table.

There is text shown on the outside of the new Nutrition Facts table to the right with arrows pointing to the new changes within the table. This is described below. Starting at the top right, there is an arrow pointing to the serving size information followed by text which says: Serving Size stands out more and is more similar on similar foods.

Under this, there is an arrow pointing the Daily Value subheadings followed by the text which says: Daily Values updated.

Below this, there is an arrow pointing to the 22 percent symbol on the sugars line followed by text which says: New percent symbol Daily Value for total sugars. At the bottom right outside of the table, there is a square bracket pointing to potassium, calcium and iron. The note says: Updated list of minerals of public health concern.

Starting at the top left, there is an arrow pointing to the Calories information with a note which says: Calories is larger and stands out more with bold line below. Under this, there is a square bracket pointing to potassium, calcium and iron. The note says: milligram amounts are shown.

Below this, there is there is an arrow pointing to the percent Daily Value footnote followed by text which says: New percent symbol Daily Value footnote. This is the end of the new Nutrition Facts table description.

List of ingredients

The changes to the list of ingredients include:

  • grouping sugars-based ingredients in brackets after the name ‘sugars’
    • this will help consumers identify all of the sources of sugars added to a food
  • listing food colours by their individual common names
  • making the text in black font on white or neutral background
  • creating minimum type height requirements for ingredients
  • using bullets or commas to separate ingredients
  • using both upper and lower case letters for the ingredients in the list
    • the same format rules will apply to any ‘contains’ statement indicating the presence or potential presence of:
      • priority food allergens
      • gluten sources
      • added sulphites

These changes will make it easier to find, read and understand the list of ingredients.

Figure 2. List of ingredients.

Text Description below

Image description – List of ingredients (Figure 2)

Shown here is the image of the new look for the list of ingredients. There is a white box outlined by a black rule. All text inside the box is black with the first letter of each ingredient capitalized. A bullet separates each ingredient in the list. There are 5 lines of text that run horizontally within the box.

The first line starts with the word Ingredients, in bold, followed by a colon. This is followed on the same line by Sugars, open parenthesis, fancy molasses, followed by comma, followed by brown sugar, followed by comma, followed by sugar, close parenthesis. The parenthesis is followed by a bullet, followed by Wheat.

The next line starts with  flour, followed by a bullet, followed by Vegetable oil shortening, open parenthesis, soybean and, forward slash, or. The list continues on the next line with the words canola and modified palm oil, close parenthesis. Next, there is a bullet followed by Liquid whole egg, followed by a bullet, followed by Salt, followed by a bullet.

The next line starts with the words Sodium bicarbonate, followed by a bullet, followed by Spices, followed by a bullet and Allura red.

The last line in the box starts with the word Contains, in bold, followed by a colon. This is followed on the same line by the word Wheat, followed by a bullet, followed by Egg, followed by a bullet, followed by Soy.

There is text shown around the outside of the box with arrows pointing to the new changes to the list of ingredients.

Above the box there are two arrows pointing to the uppercase S in Sugars and lowercase f in fancy with a note which says, Black font: upper and lower case.  There is a third arrow pointing to the sugars ingredients with a note that says: Grouping of sugars-based ingredients.

Outside and to the right of the box is a square bracket with a note which says: Bullets or commas to separate ingredients.

Below the box there is an arrow pointing to white space and a note which says: White or neutral background. Also below the box there is an arrow pointing to the ingredient Allura red with a note which says: Food colours listed by name. Outside and to the left of the box is a square bracket with a note which says: Minimum type height requirements.

Serving size

Changes to serving size will better reflect the amount that Canadians eat in one sitting. This is because serving sizes will be based on regulated reference amounts.

Serving sizes will also be more consistent, making it easier to:

  • compare similar foods
  • know how many calories and nutrients are being consumed

The changes are different for single serve and multi-serving packages.

Foods in single serving containers

On single serving packages containing up to 200% of the reference amount for that food, the serving size will be the amount in the whole container.

As an example, the reference amount for milk is 250 mL. For containers up to 500 mL (200% of 250 mL), the serving size shown will be the amount of milk in the entire container. As the following figure demonstrates, on a 473 mL carton of milk, the serving size will be shown as ‘Per 1 carton (473 mL).’

Figure 3. Foods in single serving containers.

Text Description below

Image description – Foods in single serving containers (Figure 3)

Shown here are two images of a 473 mL milk carton, each showing a mock-up of the top portion of a Nutrition Facts table.

In the Nutrition Facts table of the first milk carton image, illustrating the original situation, the serving size is listed as "Per 1 cup, open parenthesis, 250 mL, close parenthesis.  In the Nutrition Facts table of the second milk carton image, illustrating the new situation, the serving size is listed as “Per 1 carton, open parenthesis, 473 mL, close parenthesis.

Foods in multi-serve packages

On multi-serve packages, serving sizes will be in an amount as close as possible to the food’s reference amount.

For multi-serve packages, serving sizes are based on the type of food, such as:

  1. foods that can be measured
  2. foods that come in pieces or are divided
  3. amounts of foods that are typically eaten

These factors help the food industry make serving sizes more consistent for similar foods.

The following examples show how serving size will appear depending on the type of food product.

Foods that can be measured

For foods that can be measured, like yogurt, the serving size will be shown as a common household measurement, such as:

  • cup
  • teaspoon
  • tablespoon

This will be paired with its metric equivalent in millilitres (mL) or grams (g). Similar products will have the same millilitre or gram amount which will make them easier to compare.

For example, yogurt has a reference amount of 175 g. This amount of yogurt is what you might typically eat at one sitting. So, the serving size on all tubs of yogurt will be based on 175 g. Having a consistent serving size makes it easier for you to compare different tubs of yogurt.

Figure 4. Foods that can be measured.

Text Description below

Image description – Foods that can be measured (Figure 4)

Shown here are four images of large tubs of yogurt, each showing a mock-up of the top portion of a Nutrition Facts table.

In the Nutrition Facts tables of the first two yogurt images illustrating the original situation, the serving size of yogurt A is listed as "Per 1, forward slash,3 cup open parenthesis, 100 lowercase g, close parenthesis" and the serving size of yogurt B is listed as "Per 1, forward slash, 2 cup open parenthesis, 125 lowercase g, close parenthesis". A small bowl appears next to yogurt A and a larger bowl appears next to yogurt B. Together, these images show that the serving sizes of yogurts A and B are hard to compare when they are different.

Below this are the Nutrition Facts tables of the second two yogurt images illustrating the situation under the new criteria. The serving sizes of both yogurt A and yogurt B are listed as "Per 3, forward slash, 4 cup open parenthesis, 175 lowercase g, close parenthesis". The same size bowl appears next to both yogurts A and B. Together, these images show that the serving sizes of yogurts A and B are easier to compare when they are the same.

Foods that come in pieces or are divided

For foods that come in pieces like crackers, or are divided into pieces before eating like lasagna, the serving size will be shown as either:

  • the number of pieces or
  • as a fraction of the food

This will be paired with its weight in grams. Similar products will have the same or very similar gram amounts.

For example, the serving size on cracker boxes will have to be as close to 20 g as possible. This is because 20 g is the reference amount. While the number of crackers may change from product to product, weights will be very similar. This will make it easier for you to compare different types of crackers.

Figure 5. Foods that come in pieces or are divided.

Text Description below

Image description – Foods that come in pieces or are divided (Figure 5)

Shown here are four images of cracker boxes, each showing a mock-up of the top portion of a Nutrition Facts table.

In the Nutrition Facts tables of the first two cracker box images illustrating the original situation, the serving size of crackers A is listed as "Per 8 crackers open parenthesis, 28 lowercase g, close parenthesis" and the serving size of crackers B is listed as "Per 8 crackers open parenthesis, 14 lowercase g, close parenthesis". A justice scale holding the number of crackers shown in the serving sizes appears in between the cracker boxes. The scale is tipped to the cracker A side as it has a larger serving size in weight than cracker B. Together, these images show that crackers A and B are hard to compare when the weight of the serving sizes are different.

Below this are the Nutrition Facts tables of the second two cracker box images illustrating the situation under the new criteria, the serving size of crackers A is listed as "Per 6 crackers open parenthesis, 21 lowercase g, close parenthesis" and the serving size of crackers B is listed as "Per 11 crackers open parenthesis, 19 lowercase g, close parenthesis". A justice scale holding the number of crackers shown in the serving sizes appears in between the cracker boxes. The scale is balanced as a serving of crackers A and B have very similar weights. Together, these images show that crackers A and B are easier to compare when the weight of the serving sizes are very close.

Amounts of foods that are typically eaten

For certain foods like sliced bread, the serving size will reflect the way they’re typically eaten, followed by its weight in grams.

For example, the serving size on a bag of bread will show 2 slices of bread and its weight in grams. This reflects that most people eat 2 slices of bread at one time. This will make it easier for you to compare different types of bread.

Figure 6. Amounts of foods that are typically eaten.

Text Description below

Image description – Amounts of foods that are typically eaten (Figure 6)

Shown here are four images of loaves of bread, each showing a mock-up of the top portion of a Nutrition Facts table.

In the Nutrition Facts tables of the first two images of loaves of bread illustrating the original situation, the serving size of bread A is listed as "Per 1 slice open parenthesis, 45 lowercase g, close parenthesis" and the serving size of bread B is listed as "Per 2 slices open parenthesis, 76 lowercase g, close parenthesis". One thick slice appears below bread A and two thin slices appear below bread B. Together, these images show that the serving sizes of breads A and B are hard to compare when they are based on a different number of slices.

Below this are the Nutrition Facts tables of the second two images of loaves of bread illustrating the situation under the new criteria, the serving size of bread A is listed as "Per 2 slices open parenthesis, 90 lowercase g, close parenthesis" and the serving size of bread B is listed as "Per 2 slices open parenthesis, 76 lowercase g, close parenthesis".  Two thick slices appears below bread A and two thin slices appear below bread B. Together, these images show that the serving sizes of breads A and B are easier to compare when they are based on the same number of slices.

Sugars information

The changes to sugars include those in the:

  • nutrition facts table
  • list of ingredients

Nutrition facts table

A % daily value has been included for total sugars to help you:

  • compare the sugars content of different foods
  • identify sugary foods that should be limited, such as those with a sugars daily value of 15% or more

Figure 7. Sugars information.

Text Description below

Image description – Sugars information (Figure 7)

Shown here are two images of the Nutrition Facts table. The one on the left is the original Nutrition Facts table. The one on the right is the new Nutrition Facts table. There is explanatory text outside of the new Nutrition Facts table table, on the right side, with arrows pointing to the new changes to sugars information within the table.

Following is a description of the original Nutrition Facts table. Left justified at the top of the table is the heading Nutrition Facts and stacked below it is the heading Valeur nutritive. Both are in bold. The next line is Per 250 mL, forward slash, par 250 mL. There is a thick rule below the serving size information that spans the width of the table.

Left justified on the next line is the subheading Amount, in bold and right justified on the same line is the subheading percent symbol Daily Value, in bold. Stacked directly below the subheading "Amount" is Teneur, in bold. Right justified on the same line is percent symbol valeur quotidienne also in bold.  There is a thick rule below the subheadings that spans the width of the table. Note: this rule is not as thick as the one below the serving size information.

The next line is Calories, forward slash, Calories, in bold, followed by 110. There is a thin rule under the Calories information that spans the width of the table. Left justified on the next line is Fat, forward slash, Lipides, in bold, followed by 0 and a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is the number zero followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule below the fat information that spans the width of the table.

Indented on the next line is Saturated, forward slash, saturés followed by 0 and a lower case g. Indented on the next line is a plus symbol followed by Trans, forward slash, trans followed by 0 and a lowercase g. Right justified and vertically centered against the saturated and trans information on the left is 0 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule below the trans information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Cholesterol, forward slash, Cholestérol, in bold, followed by 0 and mg in lowercase. There is a thin rule under the cholesterol information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Sodium, forward slash, Sodium in bold followed by 0 and mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is 0 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule under the sodium information that spans the width of the table. The next line is Carbohydrate, forward slash, Glucides, in bold, followed by 26 and a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is 9 followed by a percent symbol.  There is a thin rule under the carbohydrate information that spans the width of the table.

Indented on the next line is Fibre, forward slash, Fibres, followed by 0 and a lowercase g.  Right justified on the same line is 0 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule under the fibre information that spans the width of the table. Indented on the next line is Sugars, forward slash, Sucres, followed by 22 and a lowercase g. There is a thin rule under the sugars information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Protein, forward slash, Protéines, in bold, followed by 2 and a lowercase g. There is a thick rule under the protein information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Vitamin A, forward slash, Vitamine A. Right justified on the same line is 0 followed by a percent symbol.  There is a thin rule under the vitamin A information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Vitamin C, forward slash, Vitamine C. Right justified on the same line is 120 followed by a percent symbol.  There is a thin rule under the vitamin C information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Calcium, forward slash, Calcium. Right justified on the same line is 2 followed by a percent symbol.  There is a thin rule under the calcium information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Iron, forward slash, Fer. Right justified on the same line is 0 followed by a percent symbol. This is the end of the original Nutrition Facts table description.

Next is a description of the new Nutrition Facts table, which is pictured beside the original Nutrition Facts table.

Left justified at the top of the table is the heading Nutrition Facts and stacked below it is the heading Valeur nutritive. Both are in bold. The next line is Per 1 cup open parenthesis 250 mL close parenthesis. The next line is pour 1 tasse open parenthesis 250 mL close parenthesis. There is a thin rule below pour 1 tasse open parenthesis 250 mL close parenthesis that spans the width of the table. The next line is Calories in bold followed by 110, also in bold. Right justified on the same line is the subheading percent symbol Daily Value in bold. Stacked under this is percent symbol valeur quotidienne also in bold. Both Percent Daily Value and percent valeur quotidienne are followed by an asterisk that refers to a footnote at the bottom of the Nutrition Facts table. There is a thick rule under the Calories information that ends after the number 110.  It does not span the width of the table.

Left justified on the next line is Fat, forward slash, Lipides, in bold, followed by 0 and a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is the number zero followed by a percent symbol. Indented on the next line is Saturated, forward slash, saturés followed by 0 and a lower case g. Indented on the next line is a plus symbol followed by Trans, forward slash, trans followed by 0 and a lowercase g. Right justified and vertically centered against the saturated and trans information on the left is 0 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule below the trans information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Carbohydrate, forward slash, Glucides, in bold, followed by 26 and a lowercase g. Indented on the next line is Fibre, forward slash, Fibres, followed by 0 and a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is a placeholder for percent Daily Value of Fibre followed by 0 and a percent symbol. Indented on the next line is Sugars, forward slash, Sucres, followed by 22 and a lowercase g. Right justified on the same line is the number 22 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule under the sugars information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Protein, forward slash, Protéines, in bold, followed by 2 and a lowercase g. There is a thin rule under the protein information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Cholesterol, forward slash, Cholestérol, in bold, followed by 0 and mg in lowercase. There is a thin rule under the cholesterol information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Sodium, in bold, followed by 0 and mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is 0 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thick rule under the sodium information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Potassium followed by 470 and mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is 10 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule under the potassium information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Calcium followed by 26 and mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is 2 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thin rule below the calcium information that spans the width of the table.

The next line is Iron, forward slash, Fer followed by 0 and mg in lowercase. Right justified on the same line is 0 followed by a percent symbol. There is a thick rule under the iron information that spans the width of the Nutrition Facts table. The next two lines is the percent Daily Value footnote that was referred to at the beginning of the table description. The footnote starts with an asterisk followed by the statement: 5 percent symbol or less is a little,15 percent symbol or more is a lot and on the second line is an asterisk followed by  the statement: 5 percent symbol ou moins c’est peu , 15 percent symbol ou plus c’est beaucoup. The terms ‘a little’, ‘a lot’, ‘peu’, and ‘beaucoup’ are in bold. This is the end of the new Nutrition Facts table.

There is text shown outside of the table to the right. First, there is an arrow pointing to the sugars line which is circled within the table.  The text reads: New percent symbol Daily Value for total sugars. At the bottom right, there is an arrow pointing to the percent Daily Value footnote which is circled within the table. The text reads: New footnote to help interpret the percent symbol Daily Value. This is the end of the new Nutrition Facts table description.

The following table provides examples of the sugars % daily value for some common food items.
Less than 15% daily value of sugars More than 15% daily value of sugars
Milk (13%) Chocolate milk (26%)
Plain yogurt (12%) Flavoured yogurt (31%)
Canned fruit in water (10%) Canned fruit in light syrup (21%)
Unsweetened frozen fruit (6%) Fruit juice (25%)
Unsweetened oat cereal (1%) Frosted oat cereal (18%)
Mineral water (0%)  Soft drink (39%)

List of ingredients

Sugars-based ingredients have been grouped in brackets in descending order by weight after the name ‘sugars’ to help you:

  • see that sugars have been added to the food
  • quickly find the sources of sugars added to your food
  • understand how much sugars are added to the food compared to other ingredients

Sugars can include:

  • white sugar, beet sugar, raw sugar or brown sugar
  • agave syrup, honey, maple syrup, barley malt extract or fancy molasses
  • fructose, glucose, glucose-fructose (also known as high fructose corn syrup), maltose, sucrose or dextrose
  • fruit juice concentrates and purée concentrates that are added to replace sugars in foods

In the following example, there’s more:

  • fancy molasses by weight than brown sugar or sugar
  • sugars in the food by weight than any other ingredient

Figure 8. List of ingredients: sugars.

Text Description below

Image description – List of ingredients – sugars (Figure 8)

There are two ingredient lists shown in the image. On the left is an example of the original list of ingredients. On the right is the new format for the list of ingredients. The sugars sources are circled in red in each list.

The ingredient list on the left is contained within a grey box outlined by a black rule. All of the text within the box is black and in capital letters. A comma separates each ingredient in the list. There are 6 lines of text that run horizontally within the box.

The first line starts with the word ingredients, followed by a colon. This is followed on the same line by the words wheat flour, followed by coma, followed by fancy molasses, followed by comma. The next line starts with the words vegetable oil shortening, open parentheses, soybean and, forward slash, or. The list continues on the next line with the words canola and modified palm oil, close parentheses, followed by comma, followed by brown sugar, followed by comma. The next line starts with the words liquid whole egg, followed by comma, followed by sugar, followed by salt, followed by sodium. The next line starts with the word bicarbonate, followed by comma, followed by spices, followed by comma, followed by colour.

The last line in the box starts with the word Contains, followed by a colon, followed by the word wheat, followed by comma, followed by egg, followed by comma, followed by soy.

The terms fancy molasses, brown sugar, and sugar are circled in red in this list of ingredients.

The ingredient list on the right is contained within a white box outlined by a black rule. All text inside the box is black with the first letter of each ingredient capitalized. A bullet separates each ingredient in the list. There are 5 lines of text that runs horizontally within the box. The first line starts with the word Ingredients, in bold, followed by a colon. This is followed on the same line by Sugars, open parentheses, fancy molasses followed by comma, followed by brown sugar, followed by comma, followed by sugar, close parentheses. The parenthesis is followed by a bullet, followed by Wheat.

The next line starts with flour, followed by a bullet, followed by Vegetable oil shortening, open parentheses soybean and, forward slash, or. The list continues on the next line with the words canola and modified palm oil, close parentheses, followed by a bullet, followed by Liquid whole egg, followed by a bullet, followed by Salt, followed by a bullet. The next line starts with the words Sodium bicarbonate, followed by a bullet, followed by Spices, followed by a bullet, followed by Allura red. The last line in the box starts with the word Contains, in bold, followed by a colon. This is followed on the same line by the word Wheat, followed by a bullet, followed by Egg, followed by a bullet, followed by Soy.

The "sugars, open parentheses, fancy molasses, followed by comma, followed by brown sugar, followed by comma, followed by sugar, close parentheses" text is circled in red.

For more information

For industry and professionals

Report a problem or mistake on this page
Date modified: