“Maple Washing”: Campbell’s turn to deceive customers with a maple leaf

The Queen of Campbell’s canned soups is the most recent company guilty of maple washingthe giant giant strategy to enrich their chests by sticking maple leaves on foreign products.

• Read also: Generalized non-compliance in grocery stores

• Read also: False Canadian products in grocery store: the law repeatedly raped

The indignation of an Ontario made the buzz on LinkedIn. Consequently, this week, after its discovery of the mention “designed in Canada” on a can of chunky soup.

“What Campbell’s is doing is stupid. Similarly, people have to know,” said Gary Kane when joined by The newspaper in Toronto, Thursday.

Gary Kane denounced this practice on LinkedIn after discovering the symbol in store, generating hundreds of reactions. For example, Linkedin screenshot

The 62 -year -old consultant underlines the irony for the multinational to use the maple sheet when you know that it closed its last factory in Canada. In addition, in Toronto, in 2018, with the loss of 380 jobs in passing.

“I have often bought soups living because I thought it was Canadian,” said the angry Toronto.

We did it. Nevertheless, said Campbell’s

Campbell’s confirmed to Journal That the addition of the image “designed in Canada” on its soup cans took place after 2018. In addition, “We have been one of the many companies to “maple washing”: campbell’s turn deceive do so,” admits spokesperson James F. For example, Rejea, confirming at the same time the popularity of practice.

In 2024, reversal of the situation: “designed in Canada” began to disappear at Campbell’s. “Chunky. resident are the only two brands that still display the image,” says the spokesperson without other explanations before adding that “the new labels are being distributed”.

“It’s from maple washing obvious. “Designed in Canada” is not even an official designation, ”annoys the specialist Pascal Thériault.

“Eat Quebecois. not Canadian”

The economist and agronomist of McGill University is not convinced by the pivot 180 degrees from the multinational. Above all, he says, that the inhabitant brand is of Quebec origin with almost 100 years of history.

“If you want to be even more certain. look for the Quebec food logo, their specifications are very strict,” suggests the expert about local products at the grocery store.

The Federal takes “maple washing”: campbell’s turn deceive care of two appellations: “manufactured in Canada” and “Product of Canada”. The first requires that the last significant transformation be carried out in Canada with at least 51% added value. while the second imposes 98% of Canadian ingredients.

Everything else. “designed in Canada”, “prepared in Canada” or the logos with a maple leaf fall under self -disclaration without rigorous control.

Make more money

The responsible federal agency. the ACIA, investigates only when it receives a complaint, which complicates inspections (see other text).

Consumers are ready to pay maximum 10% more for a product from here. according to the July Bank of Canada’s Bank survey, and “only because there are local alternatives at equivalent prices”, according to Pascal Thériault.

“We will not hesitate to buy American products if there are no alternatives at the same price. It’s flat, but that’s it, ”observes the teacher at McGill.

At Walmart, the grapes “produced from Canada” sell $ 7.97 against $ 3.97 for Mexican grapes, while no grapes pushed in the country in August. screenshot of the Facebook page @SpottedServiceDeMarde

Examples of maple washing Multiply: at Walmart, “produced Canada” grapes at $ 7.97 rub shoulders with Mexican grapes at $ 3.97. The grapes do not push in Canada in August, even less to provide Walmart.

A CBC survey revealed in late July systematic inconsistencies at IGA. Metro “maple washing”: campbell’s turn deceive and Provigo: blueberries labeled “Canada Product”, but wrapped in “product of the United States”, almonds with maple leaves impossible to cultivate here.

“They are there to make money,” can only see the expert.

&quot. maple washing": campbell's turn deceive – "maple washing": campbell's turn deceive

The ACIA awaits complaints to act

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (ECIA) only focuses on citizen reports rather than a proactive inspection of deceptive labeling in the country’s grocery stores.

“Unless a complaint is received. the SCIA cannot decide on the compliance of a product,” said a spokesperson for the federal organization.

The agency confirms that it has processed 91 files since November 2024, discovering 29 violations with labeling rules in the country’s grocery stores. “In each case, the problem has been corrected,” says the ACIA.

This reactive approach to maple washing Place consumer responsibility. which are vulnerable to deceptive practices as long as they do not report them.

Ottawa rules, however, “maple washing”: campbell’s turn deceive require information on labels do not make the consumer in mislead. The obligation to indicate the country of origin also applies to imported pre -sub -fully fresh fruits and vegetables.

“Some provinces require that the origin of fresh fruits. vegetables be indicated in advertising,” said the agency, returning citizens to their provincial government.

The organization nevertheless invites the public to report products with a possibly deceptive label via its web page. by phone.

– With the collaboration of Francis Halin