Navigating Canada's New Nutrition Labeling Requirements: How Ink and Coating Choices Can Support Label Printers
The Canadian government has introduced new requirements for displaying nutrient information on food packaging – but what does this mean for label printers, and how can choices in ink and coatings help them prepare?
What is changing?
Starting January 1, 2026, most food packaging used in Canada will need to display a new front-of-pack nutrition symbol denoting products that are high in sodium, sugars, or saturated fat.
The black-and-white symbol must be placed on any products that meet certain thresholds for these ingredients. The design features a magnifying glass highlighting which ingredient is high, as well as the words ‘Health Canada / Santé Canada’.
The regulations specify requirements for the icon’s size, location, and language, stating that it should appear on the upper half of packaging and on the right if the pack is wider than it is tall. All text must be displayed in both English and French.
The symbol will be mandatory on any prepackaged foods that contain prescribed levels of these substances. However, certain products will be exempt, including individual portions designed for sale as an accompaniment or snack, raw single-ingredient cuts of meat, poultry, or fish, refillable milk and cream containers, and food sold in small packs. Additional exemptions apply to fruits and vegetables without added ingredients, dairy products like plain milk or yogurt, single-ingredient ground meats or poultry, and simple ingredients like butter, sugar, and salt.
Why is this being introduced?
The goal of the change is to improve clarity on nutritional content by helping consumers easily identify products high in substances linked to health risks. For example, sodium, sugars, and saturated fats are associated with conditions like obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes.
The Canadian government believes the new front-of-package nutrition symbol will help consumers to make more informed choices and assist health professionals in educating people on nutrient intake.
How do label printers need to prepare?
Companies selling any food product that requires the new icon have just over a year to adapt their label designs.
The requirement to include additional information on labels may require converters, brand owners and designers to find additional space. Expanded content or peel and reseal labels can provide this flexibility by significantly increasing available printable space without compromising graphic design.
Expanded content labels involve placing two labels of the same format on top of each other, sealed with special coatings and adhesives. This format helps brands work within limited space and can also reduce printing and shipping costs by eliminating duplication.
As this new requirement takes effect, Flint Group is supporting customers with its advanced ink and coating solutions. For example, Flint Group’s range of release coatings for peel-and-reseal labels offers exceptional adhesion and release properties. Options are available for both traditional UV and UV LED curing, enabling printers to access high-performance coatings regardless of their press configuration. Furthermore, formulations include UV LED and traditional UV free-radical release coatings or UV cationic release coatings, depending on the end-user requirements.
These coatings work in tandem with Flint Group’s leading ink technologies to produce stand-out expanded content labels, delivering print quality excellence on all label materials, even when printing fine lines that may be required for nutrient information.
Combined with the outstanding support offered by Flint Group’s expert service teams, food packaging printers have everything they need to fully prepare for the new Canadian requirements.
Would you like more information about Flint Group’s advanced ink and coating solutions for Narrow Web labels? Email info.narrowweb@flintgrp.com to start a discussion today!