Understanding “Product of Canada” and “Made in Canada” Claims: How They Impact Sugar and Foods Containing Sugar

With growing interest in Canadian-produced foods and beverages, it’s important to understand the distinctions between "Product of Canada" and "Made in Canada" claims to help consumers accurately interpret food labels, particularly concerning sugar and products containing sugar.

What does a "Product of Canada" claim mean? 

A food product can use the "Product of Canada" claim when all or virtually all major ingredients, processing, and labour used to make the product are Canadian.  This means that all significant ingredients are Canadian in origin, and any non-Canadian content is negligible (less than 2%).  

• Did you know? The growing of sugar cane in Canada is impossible because of the climate, so most of our sugar supply – and most of the sugar used in food processing - is refined in Canada from imported raw cane sugar 
• Raw cane sugar must undergo refining to remove impurities and meet Canada’s “sugar” Compositional Standard (at least 99.8% pure sucrose)
• Because the raw cane sugar is imported, cane sugar refined in Canada cannot use the claim “Product of Canada”; a qualified “Made and Canada” claim can be made (see below)

What does a "Made in Canada" claim mean? 

The "Made in Canada" claim can be made when the last substantial transformation occurs in Canada. This indicates that the product was processed in Canada, but it may contain imported ingredients. 

• Such claims must be qualified with phrases like "Made in Canada from domestic and imported ingredients" or "Made in Canada from imported ingredients" to clarify the origin of the components.  
• Imported raw cane sugar that is refined in Canada can make a qualified “Made in Canada” claim or a more specific claim such as, “Refined in Canada”
• Imported refined sugar much show on the label that the product is imported and cannot make a qualified “Made in Canada” claim or other domestic content claim; see Mandatory labelling for imported food products 

What does this mean for foods and beverages containing sugar? 

The majority (over 85%) of foods containing sugar, like baked goods, preserved fruit, breakfast cereals, confectionery, and ice cream, contain more than 2% sugar, meaning they cannot use the claim “Product of Canada”

• Instead, these products can use: 
  • “Made in Canada” qualified claim
  • Alternative claims to describe the Canadian value added, such as “Prepared in Canada” or “Processed in Canada” 
  • Other approaches to highlight the Canadian value-added of products, such as a maple leaf icon, or highlighting the Canadian origin of specific ingredients, such as “Contains 100% Canadian wheat”

For more information, please visit the following resources from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency: 

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency - How to identify Canadian food
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Origin Claims on Food Labels 
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Mandatory Labelling for imported products