Gearing Up for New Nutrition Symbols on Prepackaged Foods
By Angela Altass
New front-of-package (FOP) nutrition symbols are starting to show up on prepackaged products that are deemed by Health Canada standards to be high in saturated fat, sugars or sodium. The symbols were introduced by Health Canada as part of new nutrition labelling regulations in June 2022. Companies have until January 1, 2026 to comply with the regulations.
The symbol must appear on most prepackaged foods sold in Canada, whether produced domestically or imported, that meet or exceed specific thresholds for saturated fat, sugars or sodium as defined by their percentage of daily value, notes the law firm Borden, Ladner, Gervais (BLG). Food products made, imported, or packaged before January 1, 2026, under the previous regulations, can continue to be sold, even after the compliance deadline, but any new products produced after that date must meet the new labelling requirements. In addition to updating packaging, food brands should review all marketing materials and product claims to ensure they align with the new rules.
“The implementation of the front-of-package nutrition symbol is a key component of a broader set of policies aimed at making healthier choices easier for Canadians,” says Candice Kloes, Counsel, BLG. “It seeks to address the impact of excess sodium, sugars, and saturated fats in the diet and it is designed to help Canadians quickly identify foods that are high in these nutrients. For instance, it can assist consumers in comparing similar products more easily and serve as a simple visual cue to support balanced dietary decisions.”
The new front-of-package labels might have an impact on the popularity of some products and could give convenience store owners reasons to reconsider some of the items they stock on their shelves.
Modern consumers are generally expected to favour products with healthier nutritional profiles, which could lead to a corresponding decline in sales of food displaying FOP nutrition symbols indicating high saturated fat, sugar and/or sodium content, says Kloes.
“While the primary target of Health Canada’s enforcement activities regarding FOP nutrition symbols is expected to be the companies who are responsible for labelling prepackaged food and not retailers who only sell food packaged by others, products with non-compliant labelling after the January 1, 2026 deadline can be subject to recalls,” adds Kloes.
Food trends are changing with 50 per cent of Canadians saying that protein is a key part of their diet and 68 per cent planning to cook at home more because of the economy, according to Olymel, while noting that its new product offerings meet these needs by making meats easy to prepare.
“At Olymel, innovation is the cornerstone of our entire value chain,” says Yanick Gervais, president and CEO Olymel. “We never stop investing in research and development to enhance our food offering and anticipate changing market needs.”
Olymel recently launched a new line of pork products that include pork T-bone, Chimichurri pork flank steak, hotel cut pork chops, pork capicola steak, and Greek-style pork sirloin skewers.
“These new products are quality cuts that are easy to cook, which fills an untapped niche in the pork industry and meets consumer needs,” says Daniel Rivest, senior vice president, sales and marketing at Olymel. “We’re using existing meat terminology to show that our pork is more than capable of offering a culinary experience that’s both affordable and high-end. We’re proud to promote Canadian pork in this way.”
The pork and poultry processor is simultaneously launching new fresh poultry products pre-seasoned with consumer-favourite marinades, such as mediterranean-style chicken breast, teriyaki chicken thighs, shish taouk chicken breast skewers, and piri-piri chicken drumsticks.
The c-store channel is all about capturing impulse sales and meat snacks are a prepackaged food that is a strong transaction builder, says Pete Vanslyke, CEO at Great Canadian Meat Company.
“Stocking top snacking brands with high consumer awareness is critical to c-store success,” says Vanslyke. “Space is at an all-time premium so c-stores should focus on brands they know will sell and provide the strongest returns on their inventory dollars. Meat snacks are complimentary to drinks and beverages and are key to driving c-store profit with high margins.”
Innovation is a critical growth driver in the meat snacks category, says Vanslyke.
“In 2025, Great Canadian Meat launched our new FIRE X-Hot Pepperoni, which is two times hotter than our existing hot,” says Vanslyke. “FIRE addresses the unmet consumer need for hot and spicy, which has been under-delivered by the existing category solutions.”
Meat snacks consist of both pepperoni sticks and beef jerky segments, notes Vanslyke. Great Canadian Meat has launched a mega bag 400g size of its mini pepperonis in mild and hot flavours, meeting a consumer interest in larger sharing packs.
“It’s critical for c-stores to ensure they merchandise both segments in their category sets, including both single-serve and larger sharing sizes in order to maximize shopper conversion,” says Vanslyke. “Three key trends continue to drive the meat snacks category: Increased snacking behaviour, growth of protein, and demand for Canadian made brands. Sixty-seven per cent of consumers say they seek snacks with added protein or functional benefits and 72 per cent of men consider protein somewhat or very important when choosing snacks.”
The demand for Canadian brands is exploding, states Vanslyke.
“Most consumers are looking for Canadian-made information in store ,” says Vanslyke. “C-stores should learn from the grocery channels and ensure this communication is prominent on shelves. According to NIQ, in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), like prepackaged food and snacks, over 45 per cent of consumers are either Canadian loyalists or American avoiders. According to a Leo & Dragon study, 57 per cent of Canadians have switched to a Canadian brand in the last six months and 71 per cent of consumers are checking labels for the word Canadian, with Canadian-owned being the most important. At Great Canadian Meat, it’s always been good to be Canadian-owned and now it’s really good.”
Winning in c-stores is about getting the basics right with organized shelf sets with clear pricing, and ensuring products are fresh and in code, says Vanslyke.
