Health Canada’s
Proposed
Changes
Improving Nutrition Information on Food Labels
New Serving Size Guidelines to Make
Comparing Foods Easier
Since it was introduced, the Nutrition Facts table (NFt) has helped consumers make healthier food
choices by providing information about how many calories and how much fat, sodium and other
nutrients are in a specified serving of food.
All information in the NFt is based on a serving size, which is the specified amount of food that appears
just below the “Nutrition Facts” heading. It is shown in both a consumer friendly household measure
(for example, per number of crackers, ¼ cup) and the metric equivalent in grams (g) or millilitres (mL),
as appropriate.
When serving sizes are different on similar foods, it is more difficult to compare products and make
healthier food choices. This is the main reason Health Canada is proposing new serving size guidelines.
Cereal A
Cereal B
Cereal C
Health Canada is proposing new guidelines for the food industry to help them make serving sizes more
consistent amongst similar foods. The proposed guidelines will help manufacturers more closely align
their serving sizes in the NFt with regulated reference amounts reflecting what Canadians typically eat
at one sitting. This will make it easier for consumers to compare foods and know how many calories and
nutrients they are eating.
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health.
utrition
Health Canada’s
Proposed
Changes
GUIDELINE 1
For most foods that can be measured (cup, tsp, etc.), the serving size would be the reference amount
(in millilitres or grams), shown together with the corresponding household measure. This means that
similar products will state the same millilitre or gram amount.
This guideline would apply to products such as milk, cream cheese, yogurt, flour and rice.
EXAMPLE - Tub of Yogurt
When comparing large tubs of yogurt right now, consumers may see different serving sizes, for example,
100 g, 125 g, or 175 g. Under the new guidelines, the serving size on all large tubs of yogurt would have to
be 175 g because this is the reference amount.
CURRENT
Hard to Compare
Yogurt A
Yogurt B
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
PROPOSED
Easier to Compare
Yogurt A
Nutrition Facts
Yogurt B
Nutrition Facts
Health Canada’s
Proposed
Changes
GUIDELINE 2
For most foods that come in pieces (for example, cookies, chips), the serving size would be the number of
pieces closest to the reference amount, shown together with the corresponding weight (in grams). Similarly,
for foods that are divided before eaten (for example, wheel of cheese, frozen pizza), the serving size would
be the fraction of food closest to the reference amount, shown together with the corresponding weight
(in grams). This will make the weight of the serving size of similar products either the same or very close.
This guideline would apply to products such as crackers, cookies, muffins, bagels, cakes and lasagna.
EXAMPLE - Crackers
For example, under the new guidelines, the serving size on all cracker boxes would have to be as close to 20 g as
possible, as this is the reference amount. The number of crackers can vary, but it is easier to compare products
because the weights are very similar.
CURRENT
Hard to Compare
Crackers A
Crackers B
Nutritio
n Facts
Nutrition
Facts
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Per 8 crackers (28 g)
Per 8 crackers (14 g)
PROPOSED
Easier to Compare
Crackers A
Crackers B
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Per 6 crackers (21 g)
Per 11 crackers (19 g)
Nutritio
n Facts
Nutrition
Facts
Health Canada’s
Proposed
Changes
GUIDELINE 3
For certain foods, the serving size would be more helpful if it was based on the same consumer friendly
household measure, rather than on the reference amount as used in Guidelines 1 and 2.
The serving size of ready-to-eat breakfast cereals, sliced bread, gum, and multi-serving meat (for example,
roasts, whole chicken) would be a consistent consumer friendly household measure reflecting the way these
products are typically consumed, shown together with the weight of that serving in grams.
EXAMPLE - Bread
For example, the serving size for bread is shown currently as either 1 or 2 slices (along with the weight of the
slice[s]). Under the new guidelines, the serving size would reflect that most people eat 2 slices of bread at a time.
CURRENT
Hard to Compare
Bread A
Bread B
650 g
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
650 g
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Per 1 slice (38 g)
Per 2 slices (63 g)
PROPOSED
Easier to Compare
Bread A
Bread B
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Per 2 slices (76 g)
Nutrition Facts
Per 2 slices (63 g)
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2014 • Pub.: 140093