The controversy surrounding counterfeit maple syrup in Quebec is escalating, as shoppers have begun discovering cans of syrup in stores that feature a sticker hiding the name of the company highlighted by Radio-Canada’s investigative program Enquête last week for selling falsified syrup.
The producer involved is Steve Bourdeau, whose syrup cans are typically marked with his name or that of his business, 9227-8712 Québec inc., located in Saint-Chrysostome.
Following the Enquête report from last week, numerous attentive consumers reached out to Radio-Canada or took to social media to discuss cans of syrup they had purchased, which bore a sticker reading “le sirop Angela.”
However, upon removing the sticker, they discovered it concealed the name of Bourdeau’s company.
Cans labeled with “le sirop Angela” were spotted at IGA grocery stores throughout Quebec. Four IGA locations that Enquête contacted confirmed they are now removing the product from their shelves.
This is what cans of syrup actually coming from Steve Bourdeau looked like on shelves before the label was peeled off. (Radio-Canada)
It remains unclear when the labels were affixed or who was responsible for placing them, but Bourdeau has known about Enquête’s investigation since February.
Laboratory tests carried out for Enquête by the provincial lab in charge of certifying maple syrup in Quebec revealed that five cans of Bourdeau’s syrup, which were labeled as pure, actually contained 50 percent cane sugar.
Bourdeau expressed to Enquête that he suspected the cans containing counterfeit syrup could have originated from one of his out-of-province suppliers.
He has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the cans featuring the “le sirop Angela” labels.
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Bourdeau informed Enquête that his products were available at major grocery chains like IGA and Metro in Quebec, as well as Farm Boy in Ontario.
Since the airing of Enquête’s report last week, multiple stores have removed Bourdeau’s products from their shelves and are providing refunds to customers.
Steve Bourdeau, captured here on his farm in hidden camera footage from Radio-Canada’s Enquête, said his prices selling maple syrup to grocery stores couldn’t be beat. (Radio-Canada)
Minister pledges crackdown
When asked on Thursday about the initial investigation by Enquête, Quebec Agriculture Minister Donald Martel declared that the sale of counterfeit maple syrup in Quebec was intolerable.
“I am truly outraged. Quebec consumers deserve better,” Martel stated to Radio-Canada.
“Maple products are an integral part of our heritage. Anyone who seeks to undermine that has my utmost disdain,” he remarked.
Quebec Agriculture Minister Donald Martel said Thursday he was ‘outraged’ by the fake maple syrup being found on store shelves in Quebec. (Radio-Canada)
Martel mentioned that multiple investigations are currently in progress.
“We have established regulations, and we ensure they are adhered to with great diligence. We will guarantee that this does not occur again,” he stated.
After last week’s report by Enquête, the Quebec Federation of Maple Syrup Producers lodged complaints with both the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry.
Additionally, a consumer is requesting a judge’s approval for a class-action lawsuit concerning the counterfeit syrup.
“This situation is appalling. Such behavior is unacceptable and deserves condemnation,” remarked Saro Turner, the attorney leading the class action, to CBC on Thursday.
Turner indicated that he would pursue compensatory damages for consumers who bought Bourdeau’s syrup, in addition to seeking punitive damages to discourage similar misconduct in the future.
In early April, Radio-Canada’s Enquête program traced fake maple syrup labelled as pure to a producer named Steve Bourdeau in Quebec’s Montérégie region. Now, customers are alerting Radio-Canada about cans with labels that appear to hide the name of Bourdeau’s company. These cans were purchased before Enquete’s investigation was broadcast. It’s not clear when the labels were attached or who put them on.
Spread to Ontario
The issue is not limited to consumers in Quebec.
Radio-Canada has received reports from several individuals in Ontario who bought Bourdeau’s syrup at Farm Boy grocery stores.
Vee Ledson, a Toronto resident, purchased three cans of maple syrup on sale a few weeks ago for approximately $7 each.
After reading CBC’s article last week about the counterfeit syrup, she checked her cans and discovered they were sourced from Bourdeau’s company.
“It’s not a product that we use a lot in our home, but it is something that’s sort of special to us and we really value the pure maple syrup on our plates as opposed to buying an artificial product,” Ledson shared with CBC.
In a social media update, Farm Boy announced it would also be removing Bourdeau’s product and directed customers who purchased it to get in touch with them.