Special labeling requirements for supplemented foods sold in Canada are coming into effect. Supplemented foods are prepackaged foods with added supplemental ingredients like vitamins, minerals, amino acids, or other ingredients, such as caffeine.
The regulations are already in force, but supplemented foods that are eligible for the transition period have until December 31, 2025 to comply with the regulations, including having updated labels. Products eligible for the transition include:
- Supplemented foods that had a valid temporary marketing authorization letter (TMAL) at the time of the coming into force of the regulations
- Products that applied for a TMAL before the regulations came into force and subsequently received a Health Canada notification.
Under the new requirements, all supplemented foods must carry a supplemented food facts table (SFFt), which is similar to a nutrition facts label, but has:
- A unique “Supplemented Food Facts” heading
- The same information as the nutrition facts table for core nutrients
- A list of the total amount of each supplemental ingredient in the food under the heading “Supplemented with.”
The amount for each supplemental ingredient under the “Supplemented with” heading is the total of the amounts that are naturally present, added as a supplemental ingredient, and come from other sources, such as flavorings and food additives.
For example, calcium is a mandatory core nutrient which may be naturally present in a food, and would therefore normally appear above the “Supplemented with” line. In the case of a supplemented food where calcium is added as a supplemental ingredient, it must appear under the “Supplemented with” heading only. The amount on the SFFt would include the total amount in the food from all sources.
Some supplemental ingredients will only have an amount listed, and will not have an established daily value because they are not daily required nutrients.
Additionally, some supplemented foods must carry a caution box on the back or the side of the label if the type or amount of supplemental ingredients in the food could be unsafe for vulnerable populations, should not be consumed in more than a certain number of servings per day, or should not be mixed with other supplemented foods or supplements.
