Glacier FarmMedia – Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) have ushered in a new wave of updates to Canada’s food and supplement regulations, many of which took effect in late 2025 and early 2026. The recent updates reflect Canada’s ongoing effort to modernize food regulation, streamline compliance, and keep pace with new ingredients and processing technologies.
New rules for food additives, enzymes and supplements
As of December 2024, Health Canada consolidated the Lists of Permitted Food Additives into a single, more flexible food category system, making it easier to add or modify allowable ingredients. Recent developments include:
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approval of new enzymes in bread and flour products (December 2025)
authorization of silicon dioxide in modified sugar (February 2026)
Health Canada is also reviewing the Supplementary Ingredient List to potentially allow up to 30 per cent juice content in certain caffeinated beverages.
As reflected by these developments, Health Canada’s modernization project simplifies the process for introducing innovations into Canadian food systems.
Modern labelling and compositional standards
As of January 2026, prepackaged foods sold in Canada that are high in sodium, sugars or saturated fat must display the new front-of-package (FOP) nutritional symbol, a black-and-white magnifying glass icon that emphasizes key nutrient content. The FOP symbol is required on products that exceed critical thresholds (e.g., ≥15% daily value of sodium, saturated fat or sugar per serving). However, some foods remain conditionally exempt, including:
plain milk and yogurt
fresh fruits and vegetables
raw, single-ingredient meats and poultry
traditional cheeses and kefir (for certain nutrient categories)
The change is intended to improve public health outcomes by helping Canadian consumers make informed food choices. As a result, consumers may begin avoiding food products flagged with the FOP symbol, which could influence both ingredient sourcing and production techniques. Farmers producing raw or minimally processed foods may gain a marketing advantage.
The CFIA has also suggested updates to common names for dairy and modified dairy ingredients:
The term “modified milk ingredients” is replaced with “milk-derived ingredients.”
The French equivalents “substances laitières” and “substances laitières modifiées” become “ingrédients du lait” and “ingrédients dérivés du lait.”
Eligibility rules for which ingredients can use the term “milk ingredients” and “milk-derived ingredients” have been revised. More information can be found on the CFIA website.
Industry will have until January 2030 to update labels to reflect the changes to dairy ingredient terms.
Why it Matters: turning compliance into opportunity
These updates reflect a broader government shift toward a more flexible regulatory system that responds faster to market innovations. Canadian farmers supplying grain, fruit, dairy or plant ingredients stand to benefit as processors adapt formulations to meet new rules. Consider how you can strategically respond to these changes today:
Manufacturers now need precise ingredient identity, so farmers should maintain clear records of production inputs.
Farmers who produce low-sugar fruit varieties and high-fibre grains should stay up to date on consumer demand for these ingredients in response to FOP labelling.
Dairy producers should review applicable labelling and ingredient name changes.
Farmers selling direct to consumers should stay up to date on labelling requirements and exemptions. Whole products that do not require FOP labelling may become more appealing to consumers.
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Note: This article is of a general nature only and is not exhaustive of all possible legal rights or remedies. In addition, laws may change over time and should be interpreted only in the context of particular circumstances such that these materials are not intended to be relied upon or taken as legal advice or opinion. Readers should consult a legal professional for specific advice in any particular situation.
