Non-Alcoholic beverages – what are the rules?

We have a few clients who are making products that they want to call “non-alcoholic” and we have learned that they have been under the impression that the US standard of 0.5% meets a non-alcoholic claim in Canada – which is not correct – here the written response from CFIA that in Canada the level for this claim is 0.05%:

Based on the interpretive guidance provided in the Negative Claims Pertaining to the Absence or Non-Addition of a Substance portion of the Food composition and quality claims section of the ILT, a negative claim about the absence of a substance from a food may be acceptable when the substance is totally absent from the food (i.e., because it is not inherent to the food), not added either directly or indirectly to the food or has been removed from the final food.

In the specific case of alcoholic beverages, since it is technically feasible to remove alcohol down to 0.05% alcohol by volume (ABV), a beverage which has had its alcohol content reduced to a level less than 0.05% ABV would be considered non-alcoholic or alcohol-free. Therefore, the term “non-alcoholic” or “alcohol-free” may be used to describe such a product, as part of the common name, in line with the true nature requirements (for example, non-alcoholic beer).”

It is important to note that food businesses are responsible for ensuring that any voluntary claims they make on the label of a prepackaged food product is truthful and not misleading. The person purchasing the food should be provided with sufficient and clear information on the meaning of a given voluntary claim so that they can make an informed purchasing decision. In addition, the food business should be able to provide information to the consumer and the CFIA to substantiate the claim when asked.