Import & compliance
What must appear on a Canadian retail food label?
A Canadian retail food label must show, at minimum: the common name of the food, its net quantity, a list of ingredients in descending order by weight, a declaration of priority allergens (plus gluten and added sulphites, where present), and the name and principal place of business of the dealer responsible for the product — all in both English and French, with limited exemptions (inspection.canada.ca).
Most prepackaged foods also need a Nutrition Facts table and, as of January 1, 2026, a front-of-pack nutrition symbol where the product is high in sodium, sugars or saturated fat. For imported goods, the dealer named can be the Canadian importer or distributor rather than the original overseas producer.
The core information block, in plain terms
Common name identifies what the product actually is, in terms consumers recognize — the SFCR is specific about type size and placement on the principal display panel, and some foods have a prescribed common name set out in the regulations rather than a free choice of wording. Net quantity is declared in metric units, shown on the principal display panel in a defined minimum type size that scales with package size. The ingredient list runs in descending order of proportion by weight, using common names for each ingredient rather than technical or trade names, and any ingredient that is itself a blend of other ingredients — a spice mix, for example — generally needs its own sub-components broken out (inspection.canada.ca/en/food-labels/labelling/industry/requirements-checklist).
Allergen information — priority allergens, gluten and added sulphites — must appear either worked into the ingredient list itself or in a dedicated statement immediately below it. Is sesame a priority allergen in Canada? covers one that matters directly for tahini, halva and za'atar, and is one of the allergen declarations most likely to be missed on a first label draft for this category.
Bilingual by default
Nearly all of the information above must appear in English and French on the same package — see Do imported foods need bilingual English/French labels? for the narrow exemptions that exist. Where English and French text share a panel, the SFCR sets out how they can be arranged relative to each other, and the type size requirements generally apply equally to both language versions rather than allowing one to be shown more prominently than the other.
Date markings and storage instructions
Foods with a durable life of 90 days or less generally need a best-before date, shown with the month indicated in a way that's clear in both languages. Where a product needs particular storage conditions to stay safe or maintain its stated durable life — refrigeration after opening, for example — that instruction has to appear on the label as well, not just be assumed as common knowledge.
Country of origin and the dealer name
Country-of-origin marking is required for a defined set of product categories — meat, dairy and seafood among them — rather than as a universal rule for every packaged food. The dealer's name and principal place of business must appear regardless; for an imported product sold in Canada, that's commonly the Canadian importer or distributor of record rather than the overseas manufacturer, which is part of why buying from an established Canadian supplier simplifies the labelling picture for a downstream retailer or restaurant.
Where the newer front-of-pack requirement sits
As of January 1, 2026, most prepackaged foods high in sodium, sugars or saturated fat also need Health Canada's front-of-pack nutrition symbol, alongside the rest of the label content above. What is Canada's front-of-pack nutrition symbol rule? covers that requirement on its own.
Related questions
Does the Nutrition Facts table apply to every product?
Most prepackaged foods need one, though there are exemptions for certain categories — for example, some foods sold in very small packages or prepared fresh on-site. It's worth confirming category-specific exemptions with CFIA for an unusual product.
Who counts as the 'dealer' on an imported product's label?
It's the party responsible for the product in Canada — commonly the Canadian importer or distributor rather than the overseas manufacturer, though the overseas name may also appear.
Is this legal advice?
No. This is general regulatory guidance for GTA food buyers, not legal advice. Confirm specific labelling requirements for your product with the CFIA.