Common Name

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This information is part of the core labelling requirements. Other requirements may also apply for specific products.

The common name of a food is:

• The name prescribed by the FDR, e.g., "orange juice from concentrate", "60% whole wheat bread", "milk chocolate", "mayonnaise"; or
• The name prescribed by any other federal regulation, e.g., mixed vegetables, breakfast sausage; or
• When not prescribed by regulation, the name by which the food is commonly known, e.g., orange drink, vanilla cookies, chocolate cake.

[B.01.001, B.01.006 FDR; 10,CPLA]

When a prescribed common name for a food is used, the product must meet the compositional standard established for the food by the applicable regulation. Conversely, when a food meets a prescribed compositional standard, the prescribed common name, when there is one, must be used.

The common name must be shown on the principal display panel of the food label (i.e., main panel) in both French and English, with a minimum type height of 1.6 mm (1/16 inch), based on the lowercase letter "o".

The common name must not be misleading. For example:

• It should not incorporate words unwarranted by the composition of the food.
• It should not improperly suggest a place of origin.
• It should not resemble, directly or phonetically, the name of another product for which it is an imitation or substitute.

Information related to this subject

• Abbreviations
• Composition and Quality - Names of Foods
  • Common, Coined, Trade and Brand Names
  • Qualified Descriptive Common Names of Standardized Foods
  • Stressing or Highlighting Particular Ingredients
  • Minute or Trace Ingredients
  • Common Names and Descriptions with Characterizing Ingredients - Butter, Cream, Malt
• Imitations, Substitutions
• Advertising Requirements for Common Name
• Common name in List of Ingredients

Commodity Specific Information

• List of Canadian Acceptable Common Names for Fish and Seafood
• "(Naming the Plant) Tea" (e.g., "Mint Tea")
• Fats and Oils Common Name