11.
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14 Release
Canada
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New DRIs for specific age groups
Infants 6 - 12 months: DV for potassium 860 mg (was 700 mg)
Children 1 - 4 years: DV for sodium 1200 mg (was 1500 mg) and DV for potassium 2000 mg (was 3000 mg)
All other age groups: DV for potassium 3400 mg (was 4700 mg)
Please note that this change could result in non-compliant claims.
Calorie calculation default updated to 4-4-9-2-7
The 2016 Canadian regulations require manufacturers to use the 4-4-9-2-7 method to determine calorie content for labels.
This release updates the previous method (4-4-9-2) to include alcohol, and establishes the 4-4-9-2-7 method as the default for all new labels.
The program uses established calories per gram conversion factors:
1 g Protein = 4 calories
1 g Fat = 9 calories
1 g (Total Carbohydrate-Dietary Fibre) = 4 calories
1 g Dietary Fibre = 2 calories
1 g Alcohol = 7 calories
Then uses this calculation to determine total Calories:
Calorie amount = (4 x Protein) + (9 x Fat) + (4 x [Carbs-Dietary fiber]) + (2 x Dietary Fiber) + (7 x Alcohol)
Go to Edit Label > Nutrient Options > Calories to use this option for existing labels.
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U.S.
Shortened Simplified footnote added. Users can choose to display a shortened version of the “Not a significant source of …” footnote that says, “other nutrients” instead of listing the individual nutrients by name.
Go to Edit Label > Format Options > U.S. to use this option.
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Mexico
As of Nov. 30, 2020, Mexico food labeling regulations require food manufacturers to add warnings to their front-of-package (FOP) labels for foods and beverages that are high in calories, sugar, sodium, trans fat, or saturated fat, per the established parameters. Statements that warn against children consuming items containing caffeine or artificial sweeteners are also required.
These regulations are being rolled out in three implementation phases. As of version 11.3.14, Genesis R&D is determining FOP warnings using the Phase Two criteria. Chart here: https://esharesearch.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/GENFOOD/pages/edit/1456308327?draftId=1456373870&draftShareId=04cf727c-a640-4ac1-9465-9f6b6d14fa9e&
Updates:
Excess calories threshold now includes >= 8 kcal for beverages (was >= 10 kcal)
Added sugars threshold no longer exempts beverages with <10 kcal total
Sodium threshold is >= 1 mg of sodium per kcal or >300 mg (was >= 350 mg)
Advanced Labels
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FOP
Canada requires FOP symbols when certain nutrients (Sodium, Saturated Fat and Sugars) exceed 15 %DV. (In some cases, depending on the reference amount, the threshold could be 10% or 20%.)
Determine if you need an FOP
Go to Edit Label
Make sure Canada is selected as your authority
Select Front of Package. Any nutrients that exceed the threshold will be listed.
This determination is based on the Recipe’s serving size. However, the regulations say you must use the Reference Amount to determine FOP requirements if that amount is larger than your serving size. As such, Genesis enables you to set the RA.
Set the Reference Amount
Go to Edit Label > Front of Package.
Check “Set Reference Amount”
Click “Select”
Choose the Reference Amount for the food item that most closely matches your Recipe.
Click OK.
Required FOPs may change depending on the RA, but these calculations are done behind the scenes and will not change anything on your Labels.
Change the specifications
You can select from a variety of layout formats for your FOP symbols, depending on your package size and language requirements.
Choose Language (English, French or bilingual)
Choose Orientation
Choose Size
The FOP symbol preview will appear on your Label View page as a bitmap image. This image is not high quality and is for preview purposes only. To use this image in your packaging design, you will want to download the .eps vector file.
Download the FOP symbol as a vector .eps.
Right click and select Export > As Image > To file
Navigate to where you want to save the file
Rename if necessary
Click Save
Open and edit it in your preferred vector-editing program
Genesis Classic has the basic formats built into the program. The regulations, however, allow for even more variations. If Genesis does not have the exact style you need, you can visit the Health Canada website here: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/technical-documents-labelling-requirements/nutrition-symbol-formats-label-designers/compendium-nutrition-symbol-formats.html . From there, you can download a PDF file of all the images or request .ai images from Health Canada.
Mexico FOP
The Mexico FOP symbol requirements have been updated to include Phase 3 implementation criteria. You can now choose between Phase 2 and Phase 3. Phase 1 is no longer available.
Selecting Phase 2 or Phase 3
The Phase 2 implementation is from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2025, and the Phase 3 implementation begins Oct. 1, 2025.
As with Phase 1, if one or more of the Ingredients in your Recipe has a designation (Edit Ingredient > Designation) for Sugar, Fat or Sodium, it’s subject to an FOP determination.
What was changed in Phase 2:
Excess Calories Liquid: Warning symbol criteria: ≥ 70 kcal total OR ≥ 8 kcal from added sugars (was previously ≥ 10 kcal from added sugars).
Excess Sugars Liquid: Warning symbol criteria: beverages with <10 kcal from added sugars are no longer exempt.
Excess Sodium Solids: Warning symbol criteria: ≥ 1 mg sodium per kcal or ≥ 300 mg.
What is different in Phase 3
Phase 3 uses the same thresholds as Phase 2. In Phase 2, FOP symbols are required for any nutrients of concern (Sugars, Fats and Sodium) that exceed the threshold only when that specified nutrient has been added to the food. For example, if you designate an Ingredient as an added Sodium, use that Ingredient in a Recipe, and the total sodium amount exceeds the threshold, then the FOP symbol is required … for sodium only.
Phase 3, however, requires FOP symbols for any nutrients of concern that exceed the threshold when the product contains added sugars, added fat or added sodium. . For example, if you populate Sodium in an Ingredient, indicate that it’s an added Sodium by checking the designation “Is Sodium,” use that Ingredient in a Recipe, then you will need an FOP for any nutrients that exceed their thresholds.
Despite the difference in how FOPs are determined, and because the thresholds are the same as Phase 2, the regulations allow you to start using the Phase 3 criteria now. Genesis Classic defaults to Phase 2.
Select Phase 3 from the Label Edit dialog
With a Recipe open, navigate to the Recipe ribbon and select Edit Label
On the General screen, scroll to Mexico FOP Phase Selection
From the combo menu, choose Phase 3. This is a universal setting. All required FOPs will now be determined by this phase.
Select Phase 3 from the Preferences dialog
From the Home ribbon, select MyPreferences
On the General screen, scroll to Mexico FOP Phase Selection
From the combo menu, choose Phase 3. This is a universal setting. All required FOPs will now be determined by this phase.
You can follow the same steps to return to Phase 2.