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Food and Drug Regulations (C.R.C., c. 870)

Regulations are current to 2025-02-04 and last amended on 2024-12-18. Previous Versions

PART BFoods (continued)

DIVISION 24 (continued)

Meal Replacements, Nutritional Supplements, Prepackaged Meals and Foods Sold by Weight Reduction Clinics (continued)

 The label of a meal replacement or nutritional supplement shall

  • (a) show the following information per serving of stated size and per stated quantity of food, when prepared according to the directions for use:

    • (i) the energy value of the food, expressed in Calories (Calories or Cal) and kilojoules (kilojoules or kJ),

    • (ii) the protein, fat, linoleic acid, n-3 linolenic acid, saturated fatty acid and carbohydrate contents of the food, expressed in grams,

    • (iii) the vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin C, thiamin or vitamin B1, riboflavin or vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, folate and pantothenic acid or pantothenate contents of the food, expressed

      • (A) in the case of a meal replacement, as a percentage of the daily value specified in column 4 of Part 2 of the Table of Daily Values for that vitamin, and

      • (B) in the case of a nutritional supplement, in the applicable unit referred to in subsection D.01.003(1),

    • (iv) the calcium, phosphorus, iron, iodide, magnesium and zinc contents of the food, expressed

      • (A) in the case of a meal replacement, as a percentage of the daily value specified in column 4 of Part 2 of the Table of Daily Values, and

      • (B) in the case of a nutritional supplement, in milligrams for calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium and zinc and in micrograms for iodide,

    • (v) the copper, potassium, sodium and manganese contents of the food, expressed in milligrams, and

    • (vi) the biotin, selenium, chromium and molybdenum contents of the food, expressed in micrograms;

  • (b) in the case of a meal replacement or a nutritional supplement to which milk, partially skim milk or skim milk is to be added, carry a statement that the nutrient content of the food has been determined taking into consideration the milk, partially skim milk or skim milk that will be added according to the directions for use;

  • (c) in the case of a meal replacement that is sold or advertised as a replacement for all daily meals in a weight reduction diet, include directions for use that would result in a daily energy intake of at least 900 kcal or 3 780 kJ;

  • (d) include the expiration date of the meal replacement or nutritional supplement;

  • (e) in the case of a meal replacement for use in a weight reduction diet, carry the statement “USEFUL IN WEIGHT REDUCTION ONLY AS PART OF AN ENERGY-REDUCED DIET / UTILE POUR PERDRE DU POIDS SEULEMENT DANS LE CADRE D’UN RÉGIME À TENEUR RÉDUITE EN ÉNERGIE” prominently displayed on the principal display panel; and

  • (f) in the case of a meal replacement for use in a weight reduction diet that is not represented as a replacement for all daily meals in a diet, include the information required under section B.24.204.

  • SOR/78-698, s. 9
  • SOR/88-559, s. 28
  • SOR/95-474, s. 5
  • SOR/2016-305, ss. 59, 75(F)

 The label of a prepackaged meal for use in a weight reduction diet or of a food to be sold in a weight reduction clinic shall

  • (a) [Repealed, SOR/2003-11, s. 24]

  • (b) carry the statement “USEFUL IN WEIGHT REDUCTION ONLY AS PART OF AN ENERGY-REDUCED DIET / UTILE POUR PERDRE DU POIDS SEULEMENT DANS LE CADRE D’UN RÉGIME À TENEUR RÉDUITE EN ÉNERGIE” prominently displayed on the principal display panel; and

  • (c) include the information required under section B.24.204.

  • SOR/78-698, s. 9
  • SOR/88-559, s. 29
  • SOR/95-474, s. 5
  • SOR/2003-11, s. 24

 The label of a prepackaged meal, or of a meal replacement other than a meal replacement represented as a replacement for all daily meals in a diet, that is packaged, sold or advertised for use in a weight reduction diet, or of a food to be sold in a weight reduction clinic, shall include, in the directions for use, a sample seven-day menu in which the prepackaged meal, meal replacement or food is used and which meets the following requirements:

  • (a) each daily meal includes a minimum of one serving, as described in Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating, published in 1992 by the Department of Supply and Services by authority of the Minister of National Health and Welfare, of one food from each of the following groups:

    • (i) milk, milk products or their alternatives,

    • (ii) meat and meat alternatives,

    • (iii) bread and grain products, and

    • (iv) vegetables and fruit;

  • (b) the daily energy intake provided for is not less than 1 200 kcal or 5 040 kJ;

  • (c) not more than 30 per cent of the total daily energy intake of the seven-day menu is derived from its fat content and not more than 10 per cent of the total daily energy intake of the menu is derived from its saturated fatty acid content;

  • (d) the mean daily intake of each nutrient listed in column I of the table to this section is not less than the amount shown in column II, in the case of a menu recommended for men, or in column III, in the case of a menu recommended for women; and

  • (e) the menu does not include any reference to vitamin or mineral supplements.

    TABLE

    Column IColumn IIColumn III
    NutrientsMean Daily Intake
    MenWomen
    Protein65 g55 g
    VITAMINS
    Vitamin A1000 RE800 RE
    Vitamin D5 µg5 µg
    Vitamin E10 mg7 mg
    Vitamin C40 mg30 mg
    Thiamin1 mg1 mg
    Riboflavin1 mg1 mg
    Niacin14 NE14 NE
    Vitamin B61.5 mg1.5 mg
    Vitamin B121 µg1 µg
    Folacin230 µg200 µg
    Pantothenic Acid5 mg5 mg
    MINERAL NUTRIENTS
    Calcium800 mg800 mg
    Phosphorus1000 mg850 mg
    Iron9 mg13 mg
    Iodide160 µg160 µg
    Magnesium250 mg210 mg
    Copper2 mg2 mg
    Zinc12 mg9 mg
  • SOR/78-698, s. 9
  • SOR/95-474, s. 5
  •  (1) No person shall label, package, sell or advertise a prepackaged meal or meal replacement for use in a weight reduction diet, or a food to be sold in a weight reduction clinic, in a manner likely to create an impression that consumption of a vitamin or mineral supplement must be part of a weight reduction diet.

  • (2) No person shall, on a label of or in an advertisement for a prepackaged meal or meal replacement for use in a weight reduction diet, or a food to be sold in a weight reduction clinic, make any direct or indirect reference to a vitamin or mineral supplement.

  • (3) Every person who advertises a prepackaged meal or meal replacement for use in a weight reduction diet, or a food to be sold in a weight reduction clinic, shall include in the advertisement the statement “USEFUL IN WEIGHT REDUCTION ONLY AS PART OF AN ENERGY-REDUCED DIET / UTILE POUR PERDRE DU POIDS SEULEMENT DANS LE CADRE D’UN RÉGIME À TENEUR RÉDUITE EN ÉNERGIE”.

  • SOR/78-698, s. 9
  • SOR/95-474, s. 5

Foods Represented for Use in Very Low Energy Diets

 No person shall advertise to the general public a food represented for use in a very low energy diet.

  • SOR/94-35, s. 4
  •  (1) No person shall sell, without a written order from a physician, a food represented for use in a very low energy diet.

  • (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a person may sell, without a written order from a physician, a food represented for use in a very low energy diet to

    • (a) a physician;

    • (b) a wholesale druggist;

    • (c) a pharmacist; or

    • (d) a hospital.

  • (3) No person other than a pharmacist shall sell to the general public a food represented for use in a very low energy diet.

  • SOR/94-35, s. 4

 A pharmacist shall retain the written order of a physician for a food represented for use in a very low energy diet for at least two years after the date on which the order is filled.

  • SOR/94-35, s. 4
  •  (1) A food represented for use in a very low energy diet, whether ready to serve or diluted with water according to the manufacturer’s directions, shall provide, per daily allowance recommended by the manufacturer

    • (a) either

      • (i) not less than 60 g of protein of a nutritional quality equivalent to that of casein, or

      • (ii) such an amount and quality of protein that, when the quality of the protein is expressed as a fraction of the quality of casein,

        • (A) the fraction is not less than 85/100, and

        • (B) the product obtained by multiplying the fraction by the gram weight of the protein is not less than 60;

    • (b) each vitamin or mineral nutrient named in column I of an item of the table to this subsection, in an amount not less than the minimum amount per day set out in column II of that item; and

    • (c) any nutritive substance added to the food other than those referred to in paragraph (a) or (b), in an amount that is appropriate for the purpose of the substance in the food as determined from clinical trials.

      TABLE

      Column IColumn II
      ItemVitamin or Mineral NutrientMinimum amount per day
      1Thiamine1.3 mg
      2Riboflavin1.6 mg
      3Niacin23 mg
      4Folacin0.22 mg
      5Biotin0.15 mg
      6Pantothenic acid7.0 mg
      7Vitamin B61.5 mg
      8Vitamin B120.001 mg
      9Vitamin A1000 RE
      10Vitamin D0.005 mg
      11Vitamin E10 mg
      12Vitamin C40 mg
      13Calcium800 mg
      14Phosphorus1000 mg
      15Magnesium250 mg
      16Iron13 mg
      17Iodine0.16 mg
      18Zinc12 mg
      19Copper2 mg
      20Manganese3.5 mg
      21Selenium0.07 mg
      22Chromium0.05 mg
      23Molybdenum0.1 mg
      24Sodium2000 mg
      25Potassium3000 mg
      26Chloride1500 mg
  • (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(a), a food represented for use in a very low energy diet shall be accompanied by directions for use that when followed would result in the daily intake by a person of at least 1.2 g of protein per kilogram target body weight.

  • SOR/94-35, s. 4
 

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