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  1. Canada.ca
  2. Health
  3. Food and nutrition
  4. Canada's food guide
  5. Healthy eating recommendations
Canada’s food guide

Use food labels

Using food labels can help you compare and choose products so you can make an informed choice.

On this page

  • Benefits of using food labels
  • How to use food labels

Benefits of using food labels

Food labels provide information you can use to make informed choices about foods and drinks at the grocery store and at home. Food labels can help you:

  • compare and choose products more easily
  • know what ingredients a food product contains
  • choose products with a little or a lot of the nutrients that are of interest to you

How to use food labels

Different types of information may be available on food packages. This information can help you make informed choices about healthy and safe foods.

Nutrition facts table: provides information on serving size, calories, certain nutrients and % daily values (% DV). The % DV can be used as a guide to show you if the serving of stated size has a little or a lot of a nutrient.

  • 5% DV or less is a little
  • 15% DV or more is a lot

Ingredient list: lists all of the ingredients in a food product by weight. The list starts with the ingredient that weighs the most and ends with the ingredient that weighs the least.

Nutrition claims: includes nutrient content claims and health claims. All foods with a claim must meet certain criteria but some foods may not have a claim even though they meet the criteria.

Food allergen labelling: provides information to help you avoid specific food allergens or sensitivities.

Date labelling: provides information on how long your unopened food product will last and the safety of certain products. The most common types of dates are “best-before,” “packaged on” and “expiration” dates.

Further reading

  • Food Labels
  • Limit highly processed foods
  • Healthier grocery shopping
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Date modified:
2025-04-17

Section Menu

  • Healthy food choices
  • Eat a variety of healthy foods
    Expand
    • Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits
    • Eat whole grain foods
    • Eat protein foods
    • Choose foods with healthy fats
  • Limit highly processed foods
    Expand
    • Prepare foods with healthy ingredients
    • Choose healthier menu options
  • Make water your drink of choice
    Expand
    • Replace sugary drinks
      Expand
      • Sugary drinks and your teen
  • Use food labels
  • Be aware of food marketing
    Expand
    • Limit kids’ exposure to food marketing
  • Healthy eating habits
  • Be mindful of your eating habits
    Expand
    • Take time to eat
    • Notice your hunger cues
  • Cook more often
    Expand
    • Plan what you eat
    • Involve others
  • Enjoy your food
    Expand
    • Include culture and food traditions
  • Eat meals with others

For recipes and more food guide resources visit:

Canada.ca/FoodGuide

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