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Allergen Labeling in Canada

Allergen labeling involves noting common allergy triggers on the packaging of processed foods to simplify allergen avoidance for allergy sufferers. In Canada, allergen labeling is regulated by Health Canada.

  1. Definition

    • Health Canada defines food allergens as "any protein or modified protein, including any protein fraction, derived from any of the following foods: almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios and walnuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, wheat, kamut, spelt, triticale, eggs, milk, soybeans, crustaceans, shellfish or fish." They also regulate the labeling of gluten products, defining gluten as "any gluten protein or modified protein, including any protein fraction derived from the grains of the following cereals: barley, oats, rye, triticale, wheat, kamut or spelt."

    Requirements

    • Health Canada requires food allergens be included on labels either in the list of ingredients or in a separate statement. It mandates naming the specific grain (for gluten), species (for seafood/crustaceans), and nut (for tree nuts). Where sulphite levels are at 10 parts per million or greater, this must also be noted on the label.

    Exceptions

    • Labeling is not required for alcoholic beverages that use eggs, milk or fish (or their derivatives) as fining agents or for products that include said alcoholic beverages. Labeling is also not required for the wax coating used on prepackaged fresh fruit or vegetables. However, the allergens should be present on the ingredient list. The following products need not include an ingredient list: prepackaged products packaged from bulk on-site (except nuts); prepackaged individual servings of food served by a restaurant or retail store; prepackaged individual servings of food sold by vending machines or canteens; prepackaged meat products that are barbecued or cooked on-site. If an ingredient list is included, allergens must be on that list.

    Significance

    • It is estimated food allergies affect 3percent to 4 percent of Canadian adults and up to 6 percent of children. An additional 1 percent of Canadians have celiac disease, a sensitivity to gluten. Allergen labeling helps allergy sufferers avoid adverse reactions up to and including anaphylactic shock and death.

    Precautionary Statements

    • Precautionary statements ("May contain [x]") are included when an allergen is not deliberately added to a product but may inadvertently be present. These statements are currently recommended, but not required.

    Inspection and Enforcement

    • Health Canada monitors compliance with labeling requirements through a domestic and import inspection program. Non-compliant manufacturers and retailers are subject to fines and other consequences at the discretion of inspectors.

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