Enhancements to the Nutrition North Canada subsidy program during COVID-19

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Nutrition North Canada has added new items to the subsidy list and increased the medium and high subsidy rates to help you and your family buy healthy food and other essential during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These changes include a $0.50/kg increase to all high subsidy level items, a $1.00/kg increase to the medium subsidy level, and the addition of many new items under the low subsidy rate.

Many new items added (in bold below).

Vegetables and fruit

High subsidy Medium subsidy Low subsidy
Frozen vegetables and fruits
  • Fresh vegetables and fruit
  • Dried vegetables (unseasoned and unsweetened)
  • Dried fruit (unseasoned and unsweetened)
  • Frozen unsweetened juice concentrate
  • Unsweetened juice in individual containers of 250ml or less, except cans
  • Frozen French fries, hash browns, and other potato products
  • Unsweetened juice in containers larger than 250 ml, except cans and 100% plastic containers
  • Unsweetened juice in cans
  • Canned vegetables and fruit
  • Tomato-based sauces

Grain products

High subsidy Medium subsidy Low subsidy

None

  • Bread
  • Bread products without sweetened filling or coating (for example buns, rolls, bagels, pita, soft tortillas)
  • Four all-purpose (white and whole wheat)
  • Ready-to-eat cereal
  • Cook-type cereal
  • Dried macaroni, spaghetti and lasagna noodles (white and whole wheat)
  • Rice (white, whole wheat, minute)
  • Crackers, crisp bread and pilot biscuits
  • Arrowroot and social tea cookies
  • Rye flour and other semi-perishable flours
  • Fresh and frozen pasta
  • Unseasoned plain dry pasta
  • Unseasoned plain popping corn (un-popped kernels)
  • Bannock and pancake mixes

Milk and alternatives

High subsidy Medium subsidy Low subsidy
Milk (fresh)
  • Milk (powdered, canned, evaporated, sterilized at ultra-high temperature (UHT)
  • Chocolate milk
  • Buttermilk
  • Fortified soy beverages
  • Cheese and processed cheese slices
  • Cottage Cheese
  • Yogurt and yogurt drinks
  • Cream
  • Sour cream
  • Cream cheese
  • Processed cheese spread
  • Ice cream, frozen yogurt, sherbet and ice milk

Meat and Alternatives

High subsidy Medium subsidy Low subsidy

None

  • Fresh and frozen meat, poultry, fish and seafood
  • Deli meat
  • Eggs and egg substitutes
  • Unsweetened nuts and seeds
  • Dried beans (kidney, black, pinto)
  • Dried barley, lentils, split peas
  • Peanut butter and other nut or seed-based spreads
  • "Vegetarian" products for example tofu and vegetable-based patties
  • Bacon
  • Canned fish and seafood
  • Canned legumes, such as beans, peas and lentils

Other foods

High subsidy Medium subsidy Low subsidy
  • Infant formula
  • Infant cereals
  • Other infant foods
  • Butter and lard
  • Cooking oils (canola, olive, vegetable)
  • Baking powder
  • Salt
  • Yeast
  • Margarine (soft and non-hydronated)
  • Salad dressing, mayonnaise and perishable dips
  • Shortening
  • All cooking oils not included in the Higher subsidy level (for example sunflower, peanut, flaxseed)
  • Frozen pizza
  • Fresh, frozen and refrigerated combination foods, except items that are breaded, battered or in pastry, desserts, poutine, prepared sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, prepared salads
  • Salad kits with dressing and/or croutons
  • Fresh pizzas
  • Pizza mixes
  • Artificial sweeteners
  • Spices, flavoring and extracts

Non-food Items

High subsidy Medium subsidy Low subsidy

None

  • Diapers
  • Menstrual products
  • Non-prescription drugs approved by Health Canada
  • Wipes and nursing pads
  • Disposable absorbent underwear, toilet paper, and facial tissues
  • Toothpaste, toothbrushes, dental floss, denture adhesive and denture cleaner
  • Hand sanitizer, soap, deodorant, shampoo and hand and body lotions
  • Laundry and dishwashing detergents

If you have any questions or comments about Nutrition North Canada, please visit the website of contact us.

Nutrition North Canada
25 Eddy Street, 14th Floor
Gatineau QC K1A 0H4
Email: aadnc.nutritionnordcanada-nutritionnorthcanada.aandc@canada.ca

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