How to Create Canadian Nutrition Facts Tables for Food Products
Learn how to create an accurate Canadian Nutrition Facts Table using the correct serving size, nutrient values, rounding rules and bilingual format.
Creating accurate Nutrition Facts labels for Canadian food products involves much more than entering nutrient values into a template. The product formulation, ingredient data, processing method, finished yield, serving size, rounding rules and prescribed Canadian format must all be considered.
A professionally prepared Canadian Nutrition Facts Table helps consumers understand the nutritional content of a food while supporting compliance with Canadian food-labelling requirements.
What Is a Canadian Nutrition Facts Table?
A Canadian Nutrition Facts Table presents nutrition information for a stated serving of a prepackaged food. It normally includes:
Serving size
Calories
Fat and saturated and trans fats
Carbohydrate, fibre and sugars
Protein
Cholesterol
Sodium
Potassium
Calcium
Iron
Applicable percentage Daily Values
Most prepackaged foods sold in Canada require a Nutrition Facts Table, although certain products may qualify for exemptions or special formats.
In Canada, the official term is Nutrition Facts Table, although some businesses search for terms such as Canadian nutrition table or Nutrition Facts Panel. The term Nutrition Facts Panel is more commonly used in the United States, while Nutrition Facts Table is the appropriate terminology for Canadian food labels.
Information Needed to Create a Nutrition Facts Label
Before a Nutrition Facts Table can be prepared, complete and reliable product information is required. This may include:
The full recipe or formulation
The exact weight of every ingredient
Supplier Nutrition Facts information or ingredient specifications
The weight of the product before processing
The finished product weight or batch yield
Moisture or cooking loss
The proposed package size
The intended serving size
The number of pieces or servings in each package
Details of any ingredient removed during processing
The finished yield is especially important for products that are cooked, baked, roasted, dried, drained or concentrated. Water loss can increase the nutrient concentration per 100 grams and per serving. You can also review our Nutrition Facts Table pricing when planning your food-labelling project.
Step 1: Complete the Nutritional Analysis
Nutrition values may be determined through laboratory testing or calculated from the recipe and reliable ingredient data.
For calculated nutritional analysis, each ingredient is entered according to its exact quantity. The total nutrient contribution is calculated and adjusted for the final batch yield. Values are then determined per 100 grams and per serving.
Reliable supplier information is particularly important for compound ingredients, specialty ingredients, seasoning blends, sauces and ingredients whose nutritional composition can vary significantly.
Step 2: Determine the Correct Serving Size
The serving size is one of the most important elements of a Canadian Nutrition Facts Table.
Canadian serving sizes are generally connected to regulated reference amounts for different food categories. The serving declaration normally shows a household measure followed by the corresponding metric amount, such as:
Per 1 cup (50 g)
Per 2 tbsp (30 mL)
Per 1 piece (75 g)
The appropriate serving size depends on the food category, package size, product form and whether the package is considered a single-serving or multiple-serving container.
A serving size should not be selected only because it produces more favourable nutrition values.
Step 3: Apply Canadian Rounding Rules
The calculated nutrient values cannot always be copied directly into the finished Nutrition Facts Table. Canadian regulations prescribe how calories, nutrient amounts and percentage Daily Values must be rounded.
Different rounding rules apply depending on the nutrient and the amount present. Therefore, the displayed values may differ from the unrounded values produced during the nutritional analysis.
Correct rounding is an important part of preparing CFIA Nutrition Facts labels.
Step 4: Use the Prescribed Canadian Format
Canadian Nutrition Facts Tables must follow prescribed formatting requirements. Depending on the product and available label space, the appropriate format may be:
Standard vertical format
Narrow standard format
Horizontal format
Linear format
Simplified format
Aggregate or dual-format table
Bilingual English–French format
The table’s headings, nutrient order, lines, spacing, type size and percentage Daily Value presentation must follow the applicable Canadian specifications.
A generic nutrition fact table template found online should not be used without confirming that it is the current Canadian format and is appropriate for the particular product and package.
Step 5: Prepare the Required Bilingual Information
For most food products sold across Canada, mandatory label information must appear in both English and French.
This may include:
The Nutrition Facts Table
Common name
Ingredient list
Allergen declarations
Net quantity
Storage instructions, when required
Other mandatory statements
Preparing only a bilingual Nutrition Facts Table does not automatically make the entire product label compliant. The remaining label information must also be reviewed.
Step 6: Assess Front-of-Package Requirements
As of January 1, 2026, qualifying prepackaged foods that meet or exceed specified thresholds for saturated fat, sugars or sodium may require a prescribed front-of-package nutrition symbol.
The requirement depends on factors including:
The food category
The serving size and reference amount
The nutrient levels
Whether the product qualifies for an exemption
The size of the principal display surface
This assessment should be completed before final label artwork is approved.
Why Nutrition Facts Panel Review Is Important
Even when the nutrient calculations are accurate, problems can occur in the final artwork. A Nutrition Facts Panel review can identify issues such as:
Incorrect serving-size wording
Improper rounding
Missing bilingual information
Incorrect nutrient order
Outdated table formatting
Insufficient contrast or legibility
An inappropriate table format
Missing front-of-package assessment
Disagreement between the formulation and ingredient list
A review is particularly important before printing a large quantity of packaging. Correcting an electronic design is generally much less expensive than replacing printed labels or packaging.
Nutrition Facts Table Versus Complete Label Review
Preparation of a Nutrition Facts Table and review of the complete food label are separate services.
A Nutrition Facts Table focuses on the nutrition declaration. A complete Canadian label review may also examine:
Product common name
Ingredient and component declarations
Priority allergens, gluten sources and added sulphites
Net quantity
Dealer name and address
Date marking and storage instructions
Nutrition and health claims
Front-of-package symbol requirements
Other product-specific statements
Food businesses should clearly identify whether they need only nutritional analysis and a Nutrition Facts Table or a review of the entire package.
Professional Nutrition Facts Labels for Canadian Food Products
Nutrition Facts Expert provides practical nutrition-analysis and food-labelling support for manufacturers, importers, restaurants and growing food businesses.
Our services include:
Recipe-based nutritional analysis
Canadian bilingual Nutrition Facts Tables
U.S. Nutrition Facts Panels
Serving-size assessment
Ingredient and allergen information
Front-of-package symbol assessment
Nutrition Facts Panel review
Complete food-label review
We offer cost-effective services and fast turnaround once complete and accurate product information has been received.
Request a Nutrition Facts Table
If you need a Canadian Nutrition Facts Table for a new or existing food product, send us your recipe, ingredient information, finished product yield, package size and intended market.
Visit https://nutritionfactsexpert.ca to request a quotation.
Nutrition Facts Expert Canada
Unit 18, 12484 82 Avenue
Surrey, BC V3W 3E9
Canada
Contact
604-583-6007
info@nutritionfactsexpert.ca
Nutrition Facts Expert Canada
Nutrition Analysis and Food-Labelling Support for Canada and the U.S.
© 2026 Nutrition Facts Expert Canada. All rights reserved.