A Toronto Superstore owned by Loblaw Companies Limited has been fined $10,000 for promoting imported food as a “Product of Canada.”
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said the store used maple leaf signs to advertise a foreign product, which misled customers about where it was made. The fine was issued on Jan. 15 but announced later. The agency can fine companies up to $15,000 per violation.
The penalty comes after a CBC News investigation found several big grocery chains “maple washing” — using Canadian symbols to market imported food. For example, a Toronto Sobeys used a maple leaf sign to promote almonds, even though almonds aren’t grown in Canada. A Toronto No Frills displayed strawberries with Canadian branding, but the package said they were a product of the U.S.
Some shoppers were upset that no fines were given at the time. The CFIA says it takes food mislabelling seriously and decides on fines based on the situation and the company’s history.
Under federal rules, “Product of Canada” means the food is almost entirely made in Canada. “Made in Canada” means the last major step in making the product happened in Canada.
