Lower calcium threshold for dairy exemptions

Summary#

This is the federal Marketing Authorization titled Marketing Authorization to Permit a Lower Calcium Threshold for Exemptions from the Requirement for Prepackaged Products to Carry a Nutrition Symbol in the Case of Cheese, Yogurt, Kefir and Buttermilk. It lets certain cheeses, yogurts (including drinkable), kefir and buttermilk avoid the front‑of‑package “high in” nutrition symbol if they provide at least 5% of the daily value (DV) for calcium per serving. The authorization came into force on registration (May 15, 2024).

What it does#

• Lowers the calcium cutoff that qualifies some dairy products for an exemption from the front‑of‑package (FOP) nutrition symbol. Under this Marketing Authorization, products that are cheese, yogurt (including drinkable yogurt) made from dairy products, kefir or buttermilk are eligible if they contain 5% DV of calcium per serving or per reference amount, whichever is greater.
• For saturated fat and sugars: the change expands the existing conditional exemption in the Food and Drug Regulations so more cheeses and yogurts can avoid the “high in saturated fat” or “high in sugars” symbol if they meet the 5% calcium test and other ingredient conditions still apply.
• For sodium: the change expands the existing full exemption for cheese in the Food and Drug Regulations, so more cheeses are exempt from the “high in sodium” symbol if they meet the 5% calcium test.
• The existing calcium thresholds in the Food and Drug Regulations (10% DV for small reference amounts and 15% DV for larger ones) remain in place; this Marketing Authorization provides an alternative, lower 5% DV option. The measure is permissive — manufacturers can choose to use the new 5% threshold or stick with the original thresholds.

Who's affected#

• Dairy product manufacturers, importers, label printers and packagers who sell cheese, yogurt, kefir and buttermilk in Canada.
• Retailers and distributors that handle those prepackaged dairy products.
• Consumers of cheese, yogurt, kefir and buttermilk, including people who rely on dairy as a calcium source.
• Federal food authorities: Health Canada (which issued the authorization) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) (which enforces labelling rules).
• Health Canada estimated roughly 559 additional product SKUs (about 538 cheeses and 21 yogurts) could avoid the symbol if industry adopts the lower threshold.

Why it matters#

• Visual impact: fewer cheeses and some yogurts will show the “high in” nutrition symbol. That can change how products look on shelf and how quickly shoppers judge them at a glance.
• Nutrition trade‑off: the change is meant to protect calcium intake (calcium is a shortfall nutrient in Canada) while still flagging other nutrients of concern in many foods. It may help people who rely on dairy for calcium, but it also reduces the number of products that warn about high saturated fat, sugar or sodium.
• Business effects: manufacturers who switch to the 5% option may avoid some label redesign costs. Health Canada estimated potential label‑change savings up to $6.78 million if manufacturers choose the lower threshold.
• Timing and choice: the FOP rules have a transition period that ends December 31, 2025. This Marketing Authorization is optional, so companies can decide whether and when to apply the new 5% threshold.