What Is a Canadian FOP Label?
Canada's Front of Pack (FOP) nutrition symbol is a mandatory label required by Health Canada and enforced by the CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency). It must appear on the front of prepackaged food products that are high in sodium, saturated fat, or sugars.
The symbol uses a simple magnifying glass design to help consumers quickly identify products that are high in these nutrients at a glance.
Who needs it? Any food business selling prepackaged products in the Canadian market that meet or exceed Health Canada's defined thresholds for sodium, saturated fat, or total sugars.
Step-by-Step: Creating a Canadian FOP Label in Food Label Maker
Step 1 – Set Up Your Recipe
Set up your recipe as you normally would through the Recipe Setup and Recipe Builder sections.
Step 2 – Go to Customize Label
From the recipe navigation, click on Customize Label, then select Choose Label Style.
Step 3 – Select the Canadian (CFIA) Format
In the label style dropdown, choose Canadian (CFIA). This will apply the CFIA-compliant Nutrition Facts table format to your recipe.
Step 4 – Select the Front of Pack Label Tab
Once the Canadian label format is selected, click on the Front of Pack Label tab within the Customize Label section.
Step 5 – Choose Your Reference Amount
You will need to select the reference amount for your product. Use the filter options to search for and select the category that best matches your product from the database. Once you've selected the appropriate category, click Close.
Your FOP label will automatically populate on the right side of your dashboard with the correct information, based on the thresholds for that reference amount.
Step 6 – Choose Your Label Format
You can choose from the following format options depending on your packaging needs:
Standard bilingual (English & French)
English only
Linear bilingual
Vertical
Step 7 – Save and Download
Click Save when you're done. When you're ready to download, click Download and make sure to select the Front of Pack option from the download list to ensure the FOP symbol is included in your exported label.
Key Things to Know
The FOP symbol is mandatory for applicable prepackaged foods sold in Canada — not optional.
Food Label Maker automatically calculates whether your product triggers the FOP requirement based on the reference amount category you select.
The FOP symbol is separate from the Nutrition Facts table — both may appear on your packaging.
When downloading, always select the Front of Pack option in the download list, or the symbol will not be included in your exported file.
For bilingual (English/French) labels required in Canada, the standard bilingual format is available directly in the FOP format options.
Need Help?
If you have questions about whether your product requires an FOP symbol or need guidance on CFIA compliance, you can use the Hire an Expert feature inside your account to connect with a regulatory specialist.