"The CFIA said a Toronto Superstore promoted the bags of salad with 'maple leaf advertising decals' and a 'Product of Canada' statement on an in-store shelf tag, even though its packaging stated, 'Product of USA.' For a food product to be labelled 'Product of Canada,' it must be entirely or almost entirely created in Canada, according to the CFIA."
"Grocers have capitalized on a buy-Canadian movement that gained momentum early last year in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff war and comments about Canada becoming the 51st state by using Canadian branding in their stores to promote home-grown products. But both the CFIA and CBC News have uncovered a number of cases where big grocers have promoted imported food as having Canadian content, a practice that's become known as 'maple washing.'"
"A Sobeys-owned Safeway store just outside Edmonton advertised house brand Compliments avocado oil with in-store signage that included a red maple leaf and the statement, 'Made in Canada.' But the small print on the bottle revealed the product was imported."
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a $10,000 fine to a Loblaw-owned Superstore for mislabeling imported President's Choice broccoli slaw as Canadian. The product was promoted with maple leaf advertising decals and 'Product of Canada' shelf tags despite packaging stating 'Product of USA.' For products to qualify as 'Product of Canada,' they must be entirely or almost entirely created in Canada. This case exemplifies 'maple washing,' where grocers capitalize on buy-Canadian sentiment by using Canadian branding for imported products. The CFIA and CBC News have identified multiple instances of major grocery chains promoting imported food as Canadian. Despite investigations, including a Sobeys case involving mislabeled avocado oil, only the Superstore has faced a fine so far.
#maple-washing #food-mislabeling #canadian-product-labeling #grocery-industry-regulation #consumer-deception
Read at www.cbc.ca
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