Apply for FLIP Software or Data Access

The Food Label Information and Price (FLIP) database is Canada’s most comprehensive database of packaged food and beverage nutrition information. Developed in 2010 by Dr. Mary L’Abbé at the University of Toronto, FLIP has tracked over 235,000 products from major Canadian retailers, providing essential insights into the evolving food supply. FLIP has also expanded to over 10 countries.

What Makes FLIP Unique?

FLIP is the only brand-specific, systematic food composition database in Canada. It offers detailed insights into national and private-label packaged food products, including:

✅ Product Details – Name, brand, company, UPC code
✅ Nutrition Information – Nutrition Facts table, ingredient lists, “As Consumed” values
✅ Food Labels & Claims – Front-of-pack systems, health claims, marketing to children
✅ Pricing & Packaging – Price, container size
✅ Longitudinal Tracking – UPC matching across years for trend analysis

Recent Research Using FLIP

FLIP supports research in food supply monitoring, policy evaluation, and modeling. Some recent studies include:

📌Healthfulness of major food brands under Health Canada’s nutrient profile model
📌Changes in sodium content of Canadian prepackaged foods (2013-2017)
📌Reformulation trends in Canada (2017-2020) and impact on food prices
📌Nutritional quality and pricing of plant-based dairy and meat alternatives
📌Comparison of the Canadian Nutrient File to the FLIP database

For more publications, visit our Publications section under topics like Canadian Food Supply, Nutrient Profiling, and Food Labeling & Marketing.

Accessing FLIP Software & Data

FLIP has expanded beyond Canada, supporting food label monitoring in Costa Rica, Panama, Brazil, Ghana, the Philippines, and more.

Who Can Apply?

✔ Researchers (via Data Sharing or Licensing Agreements)
✔ Trainees (supervisor must be the primary applicant)

FLIP Software & Features

Data Collector App

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web-based Software

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FLIP Access Includes:

📱 Data Collector App – Capture and analyze food label data
💻 Web-Based Software – Advanced filtering, reporting, and team management
🔍 Customizable Filters & Reports – Search by keywords, date, food category, and more
🌍 Team Management – Admins can manage users and permissions
☁ Cloud-Based Hosting – Secure storage on AWS with audit and verification tools
📖 Training & Manuals – Access to step-by-step guides (available in English & Spanish)
🛠 Technical Support – Help desk support as needed
⚙ Country-Specific Customizations – Custom fields and algorithms available on request

Intellectual Property

FLIP tools are developed by the University of Toronto, but host countries fully own their collected data.

Need more information? Apply today or contact us for details!