Latest news with #CFIA
CBC
4 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
CBC investigation finds some big grocers promoting imported food with Canadian branding
Social Sharing Like many shoppers these days, Stacey Dineen, who lives just outside Kitchener, Ont., is all-in on the buy Canadian movement. "Trump's comments about annexing Canada, wanting to make us part of the United States, boy, that really kind of lit something," she said. Dineen buys Canadian food whenever she can, but when she can't, she looks for imported products from outside the United States. And Canada's major grocery chains have jumped on the trend, running patriotic ads and pledging to help shoppers buy Canadian. But Dineen says she gets frustrated when grocers provide conflicting information about where a product comes from. Last week, for example, she saw organic broccoli at her local Sobeys grocery store. A sign stated it was a "product of Canada," but the fine print on the tag said "produce of USA." "It makes me feel misled," said Dineen. "At this point, I have run out of patience for it. It feels — at the very least, it's careless." New data from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and a CBC News investigation suggests country-of-origin mislabeling by grocers is an ongoing problem. It's also against the rules; in-store food signage must be accurate and not misleading. The CFIA, Canada's food regulator, told CBC News that between November 2024 and mid-July, it received 97 complaints related to country-of-origin claims. WATCH | Grocery stores overcharge for meat: Grocery stores overcharge for meat by including package weight 7 months ago Of the 91 complaints investigated so far, the CFIA found companies violated the rules in 29 (32 per cent) of the cases. Most involved bulk produce sold in stores, and in each case the problem was fixed, according to the agency. CBC News visited grocery stores operated by Sobeys, Loblaws and Metro in downtown Toronto this month and found similar issues among both bulk and prepackaged produce. At each store, one or more country-of-origin shelf signs in the produce section stated the accompanying product was a "product of Canada" or Mexico, but the product's sticker or packaging said it was a "product of USA." And it's not just produce. CBC News also found questionable Canadian signage for more than a dozen other types of products at the Sobeys store, including imported raw almonds promoted with a red maple leaf symbol and a "Made in Canada," declaration. "We don't grow almonds in this country. Those should not meet the Made in Canada threshold,"said Mike von Massow, a professor in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Guelph. He added that a high turnover of grocery products can sometimes lead to mistakes. However, food labelling expert Mary L'Abbé says that, six months into the Buy Canadian movement, shoppers' patience for grocer errors is wearing thin. "It's important to Canadians, and I think they have a responsibility to their consumers who expect them to interpret the regulations correctly," said L'Abbé, a nutritional sciences professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. "I think the retailers have to step up to the plate and actually get their act together." Grocers respond Back in the produce section at Sobeys, CBC News found a large sign promoting blueberries as a "product of Canada." But the fine print on the packaging said the berries were a "product of USA." "That's false advertising," said von Massow, suggesting human error as a possible cause. At the Loblaws store, CBC discovered several produce items, such as berries, squash and eggplant where shelf labels indicated they were a "product of Mexico," while product stickers or packaging revealed they were a "product of U.S.A." Packaged raspberries and blackberries at Metro had similar inconsistent labelling. At a Loblaw-owned No Frills in Toronto, CBC found different inconsistent labelling. The store displayed strawberries with signage that included a red maple leaf and the phrase, "Prepared in Canada." But the berries' packaging stated that they were a "product of USA." It's possible that the strawberries were packaged in Canada, but the CFIA told CBC News it would be inappropriate to use a "Made in Canada" or "Prepared in Canada" claim if a product was only packaged here. L'Abbé says the No Frills ad is misleading. She points out that big grocers have launched big marketing campaigns centred around the Buy Canadian movement. Both Loblaw and Sobeys have produced slick, patriotic ads prominently featuring the Canadian flag. "Obviously they're spending money on those marketing campaigns," said L'Abbé. "They can also do the work behind the scenes to make sure that they're advertising things correctly." CBC News sent photos of its findings to Loblaw Companies Limited, Sobeys Inc., and Metro Inc. Loblaw did not directly answer questions about the strawberries, but shortly after CBC's inquiry, the maple leaf and "Prepared in Canada" signage on the strawberries was gone. Loblaw, Sobeys and Metro each told CBC News in separate emails that they strive for accurate country-of-origin signage, but noted that the task is challenging when dealing with mass inventory. "Fresh produce can change week-to-week and unfortunately mistakes can happen from time to time," said Sobey's spokesperson, Emily Truesdale. Loblaw and Metro offered an apology to customers for any mishaps and encouraged them to alert the store if they discover inconsistencies. Both grocers also said they're working with store staff to reinforce signage policies and minimize errors. "As a result of [CBC's] inquiry, stores received reminders about checking produce labels," said Metro spokesperson Stephanie Bonk. Imported but made in Canada? In response to the Buy Canadian movement, big grocers began marking many domestic products in stores with a maple leaf symbol. But sometimes it winds up on products with no apparent Canadian connection. "There are lots of opportunities for things to get confusing," said von Massow. "It's important for these stores to be transparent." At the Sobeys store, CBC News found more than a dozen "imported" house-brand Compliments products, including ice cream cones, salad dressing, raw nuts and graham crackers, displayed with a red maple leaf symbol. Sobeys' website says the maple leaf symbol refers to items that are "Made in Canada" or are a "Product of Canada." According to the CFIA, "Product of Canada" refers to food that is entirely or almost entirely created in the country. To qualify as "Made in Canada," the last significant transformation of a food product must occur in the country. But the packaging for each of the imported house-brand items states that it was "imported for Sobeys" with no qualifying statement about a Canadian connection. "Why would you put a Maple Leaf on a product that very clearly is imported?" asked Dineen, who discovered imported raw almonds and "California natural" walnut pieces marked with a maple leaf at her local Sobeys. "It just erodes the trust. It just makes you think, 'OK, so that's meaningless.'" Sobeys did not directly answer questions about imported Compliments products marked with a maple leaf. Von Massow says if you're unsure about any store or product labels, ask store staff for an explanation, or call the product's customer service line, often printed on the packaging. WATCH | Why buying Canadian can be difficult: How to 'Buy Canadian' when supply chains are so murky 4 months ago As anger over U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war fuels a surging 'Buy Canadian' movement, The National asks marketing professor Grant Packard to help navigate supply-line confusion so Canadians can keep their elbows up at the checkout line.
CBC
10 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Buying Canadian? You may want to double check the signage
Major grocery chains are trying to draw consumers to supposedly Canadian products with in-store stickers and signs, but the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says complaints that some are misleading are on the rise.
Hamilton Spectator
14 hours ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Brownies sold in Ontario recalled
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has issued a recall notice for brownies sold in Ontario. 7-Select Bake Shoppe brand Chocolate Fudge Brownie in the 113 gram size with UPC 4 21401 01980 2 and batch code 25120 06/06 has been recalled due to pieces of plastic. 'Do not use, sell, serve or distribute the affected product,' the recall notice warns. The recalling company is Saginaw Bakeries Ltd. The CFIA didn't release a photo of the impacted product as part of their recall notice. You can report a food concern or complaint to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency online. Consumers can report any health or safety incidents related to the use of products by filling out a consumer product incident report form . Report any drug or health product side effects or complaints to Health Canada. You can check for more recall notices published by Health Canada and CFIA online . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Cheese recalled in Ontario over listeria, CFIA says
Cheese is being pulled from Ontario shelves over listeria, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says. The recall concerns Natural Pastures Cheese Company Mount Becher Buffalo Medium Cheese with a batch number of 854179, the agency said in a recall notice . CFIA test results triggered the recall, the agency said, adding no illnesses have been reported in connection with the cheese that was also distributed in British Columbia. The agency is urging people not to eat, sell or serve the recalled cheese, adding anyone who thinks they became sick from eating a recalled product should contact their health-care provider. The cheese should be thrown out or returned to the location where it was purchased, CFIA added. Food contaminated with listeria might look and smell fine but can still make you sick, the agency said, urging consumers to watch out for symptoms that could include vomiting, nausea, a persistent fever, muscle aches, a severe headache and neck stiffness. Pregnant and immunocompromised people, as well as the elderly, are at an increased risk, CFIA said, adding listeria can be fatal in severe cases. The agency is ensuring that the recalled cheese is being pulled from the marketplace, CFIA added.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
‘Do not consume': Recall expanded for this cheese brand over possible listeria contamination
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has expanded its recall for Mount Becher Buffalo Medium Cheese on July 21, 2025. (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) Canadian consumers are being warned to not eat a cheese product that may be contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has expanded its recall for Mount Becher Buffalo Medium Cheese to include various sizes sold in British Columbia with the batch number 854 179. The CFIA previously posted the advisory on June 24 about a 150-gram product that was distributed in Ontario with a best before date of Oct. 2, 2025, and the batch number 854 263. 'Do not consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute recalled products,' the CFIA stated in its latest notice about the product posted online Monday. 'Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased.' How serious is the recall? Although listeria infection is rare, it's serious, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CFIA has designated the updated recall of Mount Becher Buffalo Medium Cheese at Class 1, the highest risk level that could lead to 'serious health problems or death.' 'The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing recalled products from the marketplace,' according to the notice. The CFIA said its test results triggered the recall. It is also conducting a food safety investigation, which it said may lead to more recalls. No illnesses linked to eating this product were reported as of Monday, it added. Advice for consumers The CFIA recommends consumers who become ill from eating the cheese to see their health-care provider. Symptoms include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache and neck stiffness, it added. 'Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick,' according to the notice. Those most at risk are pregnant women, the elderly and people with weakened immune systems, the notice stated. 'Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, the infection can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn or even stillbirth,' the CFIA wrote. 'In severe cases of illness, people may die.'
