Grocery shopping just got easier — especially when you’re in a hurry. The federal government’s new front-of-package labelling system is now in place, making it simple to spot products high in sodium, sugar or saturated fat, at a glance. Think of it as a quick visual cue that takes the guesswork out of reading nutrition labels. The goal? To help Canadians make healthier choices with confidence, even when you’re racing through the aisles. Heart & Stroke registered dietitian Carol Dombrow explains how the new front-of-package labels will change your trip to the grocery store.
What is front-of-package labelling?
Front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labels make it easier to understand more about your food and beverage options and compare them. Starting January 1, 2026, any packaged food made on or after that date must include simplified nutrition details on the front of the box, bag or can, where consumers can easily see it. You may already see some FOP labels in stores, and you’ll notice more over time.
How does labelling work in Canada?
Most packaged foods feature a nutrition facts table and a list of ingredients. The nutrition facts table shows the nutrients in each serving and their corresponding percent daily values. The percent daily value is a quick reference to tell you if the food contains a lot or a little of certain nutrients. The ingredient list shows what ingredients the food contains.
Many foods and beverages feature prominent labels showing what are called nutrient content claims — touting benefits such as “high in calcium” or “source of iron” — or health claims, such as “a healthy diet low in saturated and trans fats may reduce the risk of heart disease.”
However, a product that qualifies for this kind of claim may also be high in sugar or salt, which can increase your risk of chronic disease, including heart disease and stroke. New front-of-package labelling will change this somewhat confusing scenario, providing up-front information that enables you to make healthier choices faster.
What changes has the government mandated?
Health Canada is mandating front-of-package labelling for any packaged foods high in sugars, sodium and saturated fat.
A food that contributes 15% or more of the daily value of any of these must show a label on the front of package. Fresh whole foods such as vegetables, fruit, meat and fish, as well as some milk products, don’t require labelling.
Why the focus on sugars, sodium and saturated fats?
Regularly consuming foods high in sugar, sodium and saturated fat can lead to increased health risks, such as obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
Canadian diets are dominated by these ultra-processed foods, like soft drinks, cookies and chicken nuggets, which add excess sodium, sugars and saturated fat to what we eat. Canada’s Food Guide recommends limiting these foods and drinks because they're not part of a healthy eating pattern. Also, research has shown that almost 50% of the calories consumed by Canadians have come from ultra-processed foods in recent years.
What will you see on a food product that has front-of-package labelling?
The new front-of-package nutrition symbol includes a magnifying glass, intended to act as a quick and easy visual clue to identify foods high in sugars, sodium and saturated fat. The front-of-package symbol complements the nutrition facts table and ingredient list displayed on the side or back of food packages, to help you make informed choices.
Why did Heart & Stroke champion front-of-package labelling?
We support this initiative for several reasons:
- It helps everyone make healthier choices — and that’s good for the health of our whole population. It also makes nutrition information easier to find for people who may struggle with the detailed nutrition facts table on the back, like those with low literacy, poor eyesight or limited English or French language skills.
- It can potentially reduce chronic disease, including heart disease and stroke.
- It will encourage manufacturers to develop healthier products and reformulate existing foods, resulting in a healthier food supply.
- People want to see this change! A recent poll found that 8 in 10 Canadians (81%) support the federal government requiring the packaged-food industry to include mandatory front-of-package alert labels on packaged foods indicating whether they are high in sugar, salt, and saturated fat.
As such, we’re pleased to see a standardized and mandatory front-of-package labelling system prominently displayed on packages.
“Heart & Stroke was proud to play a leadership role and work with many key partners to support the commitments in the federal government’s Healthy Eating Strategy. This includes banning heart-clogging trans fats from the food supply, a revised and modernized Food Guide in Canada and now making front-of-package nutrition labelling a reality in Canada." says Manuel Arango, vice president, policy and advocacy at Heart & Stroke.
The new labels are easy to understand, located in a consistent spot and supported by a strong education campaign to help raise awareness about the new system with consumers.
The goal is to encourage Canadians to purchase more vegetables and fruit, whole grain foods and protein foods for preparation at home. Ultimately, this would help lower rates of heart disease and stroke for future generations.
- Read our position statement on front-of-package nutrition labelling.
- Learn more about healthy eating.
- Check out our heart-healthy recipes.
