A food label helps consumers understand what they are buying, compare nutritional information and identify ingredients that may affect their health. Accurate labelling also supports fair competition and protects businesses from costly relabelling, enforcement action and, in some cases, recalls. Canada and the United States share many food safety principles, but their labelling requirements differ substantially. A label prepared for one market cannot simply be translated and assumed to comply in the other. This article highlights key differences for consumer prepackaged foods, focusing on Canadian requirements and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rules. Products regulated by other agencies, including certain US meat and poultry products, require separate consideration.
Language requirements
In Canada, most mandatory information on consumer prepackaged food labels must appear in both English and French. Limited exemptions exist, including for certain local foods, but “locally made” does not automatically mean exempt. Other languages may be added, provided the required information remains compliant and the label is not false or misleading.
Quebec has additional French-language requirements. As a general rule, inscriptions on products and packaging must be in French. Another language may accompany the French, but must not receive greater prominence or be available on more favourable terms. Trademark exceptions and related rules also need to be considered. Federal bilingual compliance alone does not establish compliance in Quebec.
In the United States, English is generally required. Adding another language can create further obligations: under FDA rules, if a foreign language is used on the label, all mandatory label information generally must also appear in that language. Even a short translated statement can therefore have implications for the rest of the label.Product names and the principal display panel
Product names and the principal display panel
Both countries generally require the product name and net quantity on the principal display panel, or PDP: the part of the package most likely to be seen by consumers when the product is displayed for sale. The product name must clearly and accurately identify the food. In Canada, this is the common name; FDA rules refer to the statement of identity. A foreign-language name that consumers do not readily understand may need an accompanying descriptive name. Where a standard of identity applies, the food must meet that standard to use the prescribed name. For example, a product labelled as cheddar cheese must satisfy the applicable requirements in its destination market. If it does not, an appropriate alternative name must be assessed against the product’s actual composition. Simply calling it a cheese spread does not automatically make it compliant.
Net quantity declarations
Canada generally requires metric units, such as grams, kilograms, millilitres or litres. Additional Canadian units may be shown, subject to the applicable presentation rules. Metric symbols are case-sensitive: use “g” and “kg,” while litre and millilitre symbols allow forms such as “L” and “mL.” In the United States, most FDA-regulated consumer packages must declare both US customary and metric units. The wording “Net Weight” or its abbreviation “Net Wt.” is mandatory when declaring net quantity by weight, unlike Canada, where this wording is generally optional. For declarations by fluid measure or numerical count, “net” or “net contents” is optional under FDA rules. The US net quantity statement generally belongs in the bottom 30% of the PDP, subject to exceptions. For packages from 1 lb to less than 4 lb, 21 CFR 101.7 generally requires total ounces plus a parenthetical pound expression, for example: “Net Wt. 24 oz (1 lb 8 oz) 680 g.”
Why nutrition panels are not interchangeable
One question I am often asked is whether a single Nutrition Facts panel can meet both Canadian and US requirements. For ordinary prepackaged foods requiring nutrition labelling, the answer is no. The differences extend well beyond bilingual text and the thickness of the lines. The required nutrients, Daily Values, serving-size rules and rounding conventions all need to be assessed separately. The standard US Nutrition Facts label requires vitamin D, while Canada’s standard Nutrition Facts table generally does not. Canada declares a percent Daily Value for total sugars. The US label declares total sugars but assigns a percent Daily Value to added sugars instead.
Daily Values can also differ. For adults and children aged four and older, the potassium Daily Value is 3,400 mg in Canada and 4,700 mg in the United States. The same potassium content can therefore produce different percentages on the two labels. Serving sizes are based on each country’s prescribed reference amounts and serving-size rules, rather than a recommended amount to eat. Rounding rules also differ. For example, 0.3 g of trans fat per serving is generally declared as 0.3 g in Canada but as 0 g on a US Nutrition Facts label. Adding both panels is not a solution for the Canadian market. CFIA guidance does not permit a foreign Nutrition Facts table alongside the Canadian table on foods sold in Canada. Packaging intended for both markets therefore needs careful planning.
Canadian nutrition labelling changes in 2026
January 1st 2026 marked the end of the transition periods for Canada’s front-of-package nutrition labelling and supplemented food requirements. The front-of-package nutrition symbol identifies foods that are high in saturated fat, sugars or sodium. The threshold is generally 15% of the applicable Daily Value, but it is 10% for foods with small reference amounts and 30% for qualifying prepackaged main dishes. The symbol is triggered when a threshold is met or exceeded, subject to exemptions and the prescribed calculation rules. Its size, format and location are regulated.
Supplemented foods, including many energy drinks, require a Supplemented Food Facts table in place of the standard Nutrition Facts table. A front-of-package supplemented food caution identifier and cautionary statements are required when the applicable supplemental ingredient conditions trigger them. These caution elements are not mandatory for every supplemented food.
Ingredient lists
Both countries generally require ingredient lists for foods containing more than one ingredient, with ingredients declared in descending order by weight. However, the details of presentation and naming differ. Canada prescribes detailed formatting, including a sans-serif font, dark type equivalent to solid black, and a white or neutral background with no more than 5% tint. The list must be appropriately separated from surrounding information. The “Ingredients” heading is bold, and each main ingredient entry generally begins with an uppercase letter. Components within parentheses and ingredients within a sugars grouping generally use lowercase letters, subject to specified exceptions. Canada also requires sugars-based ingredients to be grouped under “Sugars,” followed by their individual names in parentheses. This can include sugar, honey, syrups and certain juice ingredients used as sweeteners. The grouping rules are set out in the Food and Drug Regulations. US ingredient-list formatting is less prescriptive in some respects, but there are specific disclosure rules. For example, chemical preservatives generally must be identified by their common or usual name together with their function, such as “preservative” or “to retard spoilage.”
Allergen declarations
Allergen declarations deserve particular attention because an omission can put consumers at serious risk and lead to a recall. Both countries require declarations for specified allergens, but their lists and source-naming rules are not identical. Mustard and molluscan shellfish, such as scallops, clams and oysters, are priority allergens in Canada but are not among the nine major food allergens under US federal law. Canada also has explicit declaration requirements for gluten sources and added sulphites at specified levels. In the United States, wheat is a major allergen; barley and rye are not major allergens, although ordinary ingredient-list requirements still apply. A food that is not a US major allergen does not automatically qualify for omission from the ingredient list. A compliant label protects consumers and helps prevent avoidable business costs. These examples cover only part of the requirements. Before committing to a large print run, have the complete artwork reviewed against the rules for the product and its intended market, including its formulation, claims, packaging and any applicable exemptions.
Food labelling requirements can be complex, especially when preparing products for both Canadian and US markets. Before you commit to a large print run, Sirocco Food and Wine Consulting Inc. can review your label for compliance and help identify potential issues with nutrition information, ingredients, allergens, claims, formatting and other regulatory requirements. Contact us to have your food label reviewed with confidence before it goes to print or select the service you require in our estore.
Authored by Sean Xia, Food Safety Consultant
