Home / Business and Economy / Canadian Groceries Mislabelled: Shoppers Deceived by 'Maple Washing'
Canadian Groceries Mislabelled: Shoppers Deceived by 'Maple Washing'
11 Sep
Summary
- Shoppers are finding 'Product of Canada' labels on items actually from the USA.
- A practice called 'maple washing' misleads consumers about product origins.
- Consumers Council urges stores to ensure accurate country-of-origin labelling.
Canadian shoppers are becoming more vigilant at the grocery store, meticulously checking labels amid concerns over trade disputes and potential misrepresentation of product origins. A practice known as 'maple washing' involves misleading consumers with signs and imagery suggesting products are Canadian when they are not. This has led to incidents where items like blackberries were advertised as 'Product of Canada' on shelf tags, but the packaging clearly stated 'Product of USA.'
Consumers Council of Canada has received numerous complaints, asserting that Canadian shoppers have a right to be informed about their purchases without needing to conduct investigations. Similar labelling errors have been reported with green beans marked as Canadian but imported from Guatemala, and red onions sold as Canadian despite being from Egypt. Retailers like Walmart acknowledge the importance of Canadian products and aim for accurate country-of-origin details, stating they promptly correct any errors.
Despite assurances from retailers, consumers like Joanne Irvine from Milton, Ontario, plan to remain vigilant. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is the designated authority for handling such labelling complaints, requiring evidence such as photos and receipts for investigation.
