Food Labeling Regulations

Question 1

What does CFIA stands for and what is its mandate?

Answer 1

Canadian Food Inspection Agency; It safeguards food, plants and animals to enhance the health, environment and economy of Canadians

Question 2

What are CFIA’s 4 departments?

Answer 2

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Health Canada
Industry Canada

Question 3

Describe a few functions of CFIA (5)

Answer 3

Investigate complaints
Recall unsafe products
Food Labeling
Certify exports
Prevent/minimize zoonotic diseases

Question 4

When it comes to food labels, what are the differences in functions of Health Canada and the CFIA?

Answer 4

Health Canada will establish policies/regulations/standards and will provide consumers information
CFIA will enforce what Health Canada establishes

Question 5

This section “No person shall label or sell any food in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive or is likely to create an erroneous impression regarding its composition or safety” is part of which legislation?

Answer 5

Food and Drugs Act and Regulations

Question 6

What are the 7 basic labeling requirements

Answer 6

Bilingual
Best Before Date
Nutrition Information
Common Name
Net Quantity
Name & Address of Company
List of Ingredients

Question 7

What are the two definitions of the “Common Name” given to a product?

Answer 7

Name prescribed by a regulation

If no prescribed name, name by which the product is commonly known

Question 8

The Best Before Date is for what type of product and should be accompanied with what if necessary?

Answer 8

It is for product with durable life of 90 days or less; it must include storage instructions if they are different than room temperature

Question 9

In what language should the Name & Address of company be written?

Answer 9

French OR English

Question 10

In what units should the Net Quantity be in and what is its purpose?

Answer 10

Should be in metric units and it allows to calculate the nutritional information of the whole package

Question 11

In the list of ingredients, which ingredients do not need to follow the golden rule?

Answer 11

spices
seasonings
herbs
flavorings
flavor enhancers
food additives
vitamins
minerals (expect SALT!!)

Question 12

With the new regulation, what do sugar-based ingredients include?

Answer 12

Mono-di-saccharide
A sweetening agent (lactose, fancy molasses)
Product functioning as a sweetening agent (concentrated grape juice)

Question 13

What are some causes of Undeclared Allergens? (4)

Answer 13

Incomplete cleaning
Labeling error
Ingredient changes/substitutions
Unknown ingredient in raw material

Question 14

Name the allergens that always need to be declared (10)

Answer 14

Peanuts, Tree nuts, Milk products, Eggs, Soy, Seafood, Sesame seed, Wheat, Mustard seed, Sulphites

Question 15

What needs to be done with packaging when a product has artificial sweeteners

Answer 15

It needs to be indicated on the label and they need to be included in the ingredients list

Question 16

What foods are exempt of nutritional labeling (5)

Answer 16

Foods with insignificant amount of core nutrients
Beverages with more than 0.5% alcohol
Fresh fruits and vegetables
Raw meat, poultry and fish
One bite confections

Question 17

What happens if the Net Quantity is within 200% of the reference amount displayed on Health Canada

Answer 17

The serving size must be equal to the entire package

Question 18

What are examples of Nutrient Content Claims?

Answer 18

Low in Fat, Source of Vit C, Very High source of fibers

Question 19

On what are Nutrient Content Claims based upon?

Answer 19

They are based on a Regulated Reference Amount

4g or more of fibre per ref. amount of 55g

Question 20

What Health claims are foods, drugs or cosmetics prohibited?

Answer 20

To be advertised as a treatment/prevention/cure for diseases/disorders/…

Question 21

What are the 3 “grades” of Organic labeling?

Answer 21

at least 95% organic = organic
]70, 95%[ = can call organic, but cannot have label
less than 70% = can declare organic ingredients

Question 22

What is the difference between a Product of Canada and a product Made in Canada

Answer 22

Product of Canada = Manufacturing & Manpower are Canadian, at least 98% of ingredients are Canadian
Made in Canada = The last substantial transformation was done in Canada

Question 23

What does a product Made in Canada needs to indicate?

Answer 23

If it is made with: imported ingredients Vs. domestic and imported ingredients