Like many buyers these days, Stacey Dineen, who lives on the outskirts of Kitchener, Ontario, is totally in the Canadian purchase movement.
“Trump’s comments about Canada’s annexation, wanting to become part of the United States, boy, that really turned on something,” he said.
Dineen Buy Canadian food whenever you can, but when you can’t, look for imported products from outside the United States.
And the main supermarket chains in Canada have risen to the trend, publishing patriotic ads and committed to helping buyers to buy Canadian.
But Dineen says she feels frustrated when supermarkets provide contradictory information about where a product comes from.
Last week, for example, he saw organic broccoli in his local grocery store in Sebeys. A sign declared that it was a “Canada product”, but the small print on the label said “product of the United States.”
“It makes me feel deceived,” said Dineen. “At this point, I have run out of patience. It feels, at least, it is neglected.”
The new data of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and a CBC news investigation suggest that the incorrect label of the country of origin by groceries is a continuous problem. It is also against the rules; Food signage in the store It must be accurate and not misleading.
The Food Regulator of the CFIA, Canada, told CBC News that between November 2024 and mid -July, he received 97 complaints related to country claims.
A CBC news investigation discovered that it was discovered that some Canadian supermarkets were overloading customers, potentially by including the weight of the packaging in the cost of meat, which over time could add millions of profits. One of the supermarkets has apologized and everyone has pledged to address the problem.
Of the 91 complaints investigated so far, the CFIA found that companies violated the rules in 29 (32 percent) of cases. According to the agency, most bulk products sold in stores, and in each case the problem was solved, according to the agency.
CBC News visited grocery stores operated by Sobeys, Loblaws and Metro in the center of Toronto this month and found similar problems between bulk and pre -host products. In each store, one or more signs of source shelf in the product section declared that the accompanying product was a “Canada product” or Mexico, but the label or product packaging said it was a “US product.”
And it’s not just products. CBC News also found a questionable Canadian signage for more than a dozen other types of products in the Sobeys store, including imported raw almonds promoted with a red Arce sheet symbol and a “made in Canada” statement.
“We do not cultivate almonds in this country. They should not comply with Made in Canada’s threshold”, “ Mike Von Massow said, a professor at the Department of Food, Agriculture and Resources of the University of Guelph.
He added that a high rotation of edible products can sometimes lead to errors.
However, the expert in food labeling Mary L’Abé says that, six months after the Canadian purchase movement, the patience of buyers for esting errors becomes thin.
“It is important for Canadians, and I think they have a responsibility with their consumers who hope they interpret regulations correctly,” said L’Abé, Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto.
“I think the retailers have to advance to the dish and really act together.”
Answer supermarkets
Back in the Products section in Sobeys, CBC News found a large sign that promotes blueberries as a “Canada product.” But the small print in the packaging said the berries were a “product of the United States.”
“That is false advertising,” said Von Massow, suggesting human error as a possible cause.
In the Loblaws store, CBC discovered several products of products, such as berries, pumpkin and eggplant where shelves labels indicated that they were a “product of Mexico”, while the stickers or the packaging revealed that they were a “US product.”
The raspberries and blackberries packaged by subway had a similar inconsistent labeling.
In a loblaw filling in Toronto, CBC found a different inconsistent labeling. The store showed strawberries with signaling that included a red maple leaf and the phrase “prepared in Canada”. But the berries declared that they were a “United States product.”
It is possible that the strawberries were packaged in Canada, but the CFIA told CBC News that it would be inappropriate to use an “made in Canada” or “prepared in Canada” statement if a product was only packaged here.
L’Abbé says that the announcement of No Frills is misleading.
She points out that Big Grocers has launched large marketing campaigns centered on the Buy Canadian movement. Both Loblaw and Sebeys have produced smooth and patriotic ads that present the Canadian flag.
“Obviously they are spending money on those marketing campaigns,” said L’Abbé. “They can also do the work behind the scene to make sure they announce things correctly.”
CBC News sent photos of his findings to Loblaw Companies Limited, Sebeys Inc. and Metro Inc.
Loblaw did not directly answer questions about strawberries, but shortly after CBC’s investigation, Maple Leaf’s signage and “Prepared in Canada” in the strawberries.
Loblaw, Sebeys and Metro told CBC News in separate emails that strive to precise signaling in the country of origin, but pointed out that the task is a challenge when it comes to a massive inventory.
“Fresh products can change from week to week and unfortunately errors can occur from time to time,” said Sobey spokeswoman Emily Truesdale.
Loblaw and Metro offered an apology to customers for any setback and encouraged them to alert the store if they discover inconsistencies.
Both shopkeepers also said they are working with store staff to reinforce signaling policies and minimize errors.
“As a result of [CBC’s] Consultation, the stores received reminders about the verification of products labels, “said Metro spokeswoman Stephanie Bonk.
Imported but done in Canada?
In response to the purchase of the Canadian movement, Big Grocers began to mark many national products in stores with an arce sheet symbol. But sometimes it ends products without an apparent Canadian connection.
“There are many opportunities for things to become confusing,” said Von Massow. “It is important that these stores are transparent.”
In the Sobeys store, CBC News found more than a dozen “imported” domestic brand meetings, including ice cream cones, salad dressing, raw nuts and Graham cookies, which are shown with a red arce sheet symbol.
Sebeys website The symbol of the Arce leaf says refers to articles that are “made in Canada” or are a “Canada product.”
According to the CFIA“Product of Canada” refers to foods that are created total or almost completely 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 articles of the domestic brand establishes that it was “imported for sovereys” without a statement of rating on a Canadian connection.
“Why would you put an arce sheet on a product that is clearly imported?” Dineen asked, who discovered imported raw almonds and walnut pieces “Natural California” marked with an Arce sheet in his local sovereys.
“Simply erodes trust. It simply makes you think, ‘ok, so that makes no sense’.”
Sobeys did not directly answer questions about the products of imported compliments marked with an Arce sheet.
Von Massow says that if you are not sure of any product store or label, request an explanation to the store staff or call the product customer service line, often printed on the packaging.
As I will be for the commercial war of the president of the United States, Donald Trump feeds a ‘Canadian’ movement, the National Marketing professor asks Marketing Grant Packard to help navigate the confusion of the supply line so that Canadians can keep the elbows in the payment line.
