Genesis R&D Manual

What's New

Owned by Nate Edwards
Last updated: Jan 12, 2024
4 min read

11.14 Release

Canada 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 

  1. Go to Edit Label 

  1. Make sure Canada is selected as your authority 

  1. 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 

  1. Go to Edit Label > Front of Package.  

  1. Check “Set Reference Amount” 

  1. Click “Select” 

  1. Choose the Reference Amount for the food item that most closely matches your Recipe. 

  1. 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.  

  1. Choose Language (English, French or bilingual) 

  1. Choose Orientation 

  1. 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. 

  1. Right click and select Export > As Image > To file 

  1. Navigate to where you want to save the file 

  1. Rename if necessary 

  1. Click Save 

  1. 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.   

Health Canada regulations say the FOP determination should be based on which of these amounts is larger – the serving size of your Recipe/Label or a corresponding reference amount.

So, for Genesis to correctly determine your FOP, you must first enter a reference amount. Genesis determines the need for an FOP based on either the %DVs per reference amount or serving size (whichever is greater. Reference amount calculations take place behind the scenes and will not change anything on your label. 

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 

  1. With a Recipe open, navigate to the Recipe ribbon and select Edit Label 

  1. On the General screen, scroll to Mexico FOP Phase Selection 

  1. 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 

  1. From the Home ribbon, select MyPreferences 

  1. On the General screen, scroll to Mexico FOP Phase Selection
     

    image-20240110-204828.png

  1. 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.