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Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CBC investigation finds some big grocers promoting imported food with Canadian branding
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 | Buying Canadian? You may want to double check the signage: 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. Shoppers who discover advertising or labels for food that they feel are misleading can file a complaint with the CFIA. WATCH | Grocery stores overcharge for packaged meat: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
24-07-2025
- Business
CBC investigation finds some big grocers promoting imported food with Canadian branding
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. Enlarge image (new window) Shopper Stacey Dineen, who lives near Kitchener, Ont., found organic broccoli at her local Sobeys advertised as 'Product of Canada,' but the item's label said it was 'Produce of USA.' Photo: Submitted by Stacey Dineen 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 (new window). 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 | Buying Canadian? You may want to double check the signage: Début du widget . Passer le widget? Fin du widget . Retour au début du widget? 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. Enlarge image (new window) CBC News found these raw almonds displayed at a Toronto Sobeys store with a red maple leaf symbol and a 'Made in Canada' declaration. But the almonds' packaging said the product was imported. Photo: CBC / Sophia Harris 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. Enlarge image (new window) CBC News found these fresh blueberries displayed at a Toronto Sobeys store with a 'product of Canada' declaration. But the packaging says the berries are a 'product of USA.' Photo: CBC / Sophia Harris 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. Enlarge image (new window) CBC News found organic raspberries displayed at a Toronto Metro store with a 'Product of Mexico' declaration, but the packages above the sign said they were a 'Product of USA.' Metro says the flyer advertising the sale correctly stated that the berries were from Mexico or the U.S. Photo: Sophia Harris/CBC 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. Enlarge image (new window) CBC News found these fresh strawberries displayed at a Toronto No Frills store with a 'Prepared in Canada' declaration. But the packaging says the fruit is a 'Product of USA.' Photo: CBC / Sophia Harris 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. Enlarge image (new window) CBC News found several types of ice cream cones displayed at a Toronto Sobeys store with a red maple leaf, but the product's packaging notes that it was imported. Photo: CBC / Sophia Harris 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 (new window) says the maple leaf symbol refers to items that are Made in Canada or are a Product of Canada. According to the CFIA (new window), 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. Enlarge image (new window) Dineen, who lives just outside Kitchener, Ont., says she gets frustrated when grocers provide conflicting information about where a product comes from. Photo: CBC / Sophia Harris 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 | Grocery stores overcharge for packaged meat: Début du widget . Passer le widget? Fin du widget . Retour au début du widget?
Irish Examiner
21-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Man was selling cocaine for well-known Bandon family, court hears
A Cork man who pleaded guilty to the possession of cocaine for sale or supply was selling the drugs on behalf of a well-known Bandon family, according to his solicitor. Court presenter Sergeant Eimear O'Connell told Bandon District Court that a garda patrol was in the Castle Road area of Bandon, Co Cork, just after midnight on February 13, 2023. They observed an individual, identified as Adrian Dineen, aged 35 of Sunnyside, Kilbarry, Dunmanway, Co Cork, behaving in a suspicious manner. When Dineen was question he became nervous and he was searched. On his person gardaí found a white substance in his wallet later identified as cocaine and deal bags of cocaine in his jacket pockets. The total value of cocaine recovered was €500. Dineen was also in possession of a mobile phone that showed evidence of drug dealing activity. When questioned Dineen admitted possession of cocaine for sale or supply. The court heard that Dineen had 29 previous convictions, including three for the possession of illegal drugs but none for sale or supply. Defence solicitor Éamonn Fleming said that his client had 'completely cleaned up his act' since his arrest. He said that Dineen was now working full-time in a factory near Bandon and cycled the 12km to work every day 'come rain or shine'. He added that Dineen was an 'active father' to his two young children who were in the care of their maternal grandparents who he had a good relationship with and also paid maintenance. The court heard that Dinnen was drug-free for a year and a half and had attended counselling and underwent drug testing for work. Mr Fleming said that at the time of the offending Dineen was 'acting at the behest' of a family from Bandon who were well-known to the court and involved in drug-dealing. Judge Joanne Carroll said that if Mr Fleming's appraisal of Dineen's progress was correct he could expect 'a positive outcome'. She ordered a probation report and directed Dineen to take one random drug test at the direction of the Probation Service. She remanded him on continuing bail to appear again on November 7 for finalisation. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Hamilton Spectator
24-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Family storm out of court as judge acquits ‘Good Samaritans' in death of man who went on sudden ‘rampage' inside Toronto Jack Astor's
The courtroom remained largely silent as Superior Court Justice Michael Dineen read his judgment Tuesday in the case of two 'Good Samaritans' charged with manslaughter after restraining a violent Scarborough bar patron who later died. That is, until the judge read his verdict: not guilty. Relatives of the 32-year-old victim, Frank Harbalis, stormed out of the courtroom as someone could be heard saying 'F—- off' and 'F—- you' while the judge was still speaking on the bench. The defendants, Alexander Campbell and Tyler Josling, collapsed into tears, seated next to their lawyers as their equally emotional family members broke out into applause. 'I find that the role of the defendants in the incident was the laudable one of trying to protect others from serious harm,' Dineen said. 'The defendants in this case were acting as Good Samaritans . This does not give carte blanche to employ disproportionate force in response to a violent situation, but it militates in favour of a more forgiving standard when assessing the reasonableness of their decisions.' The judge-alone trial heard earlier this year that Harbalis had been drinking beer for several hours at Jack Astor's at Scarborough Town Centre on July 11, 2022, before being cut off as he was seen wandering around the establishment speaking to strangers in a manner that struck a bartender as unusual. He repeatedly asked for the bartender's name, and touched her hair when settling up his bill. Frank Harbalis returns to Jack Astor's looking for his cellphone and suddenly punches floor manager Trevor Jaijairam. Source: Ontario Superior Court Exhibit He left the bar by climbing over a seven-foot glass wall on the patio, only to later return looking for his cellphone. While Dineen said surveillance footage shows Harbalis initially appearing to have a calm conversation with the floor manager, he soon punched the manager in the face 'with considerable force.' The manager testified that Harbalis 'had not appeared angry before this and it was like a switch being flipped,' according to Dineen's judgment. Harbalis continued to throw punches and chase the manager before hitting another manager in the head with a chair, in what Dineen described as an 'apparent violent rampage.' At this point, Campbell and Josling, two 26-year-old men who were at the bar together and who did not know Harbalis, came rushing over and helped restrain him on the floor with the two managers he had attacked. One of the managers unsuccessfully tried to tie Harbalis's arms and then his legs with telephone wire as the six-foot-two, 275-pound man continued to struggle. The four men held Harbalis down for about 10 minutes until first responders arrived, at which point he was unconscious with fading vital signs. Harbalis died in hospital two days later. An autopsy showed his death was caused by neck compression that either cut off blood flow to his brain, or was a contributing factor to sudden cardiac arrest in combination with the stress of the situation and Harbalis's pre-existing heart condition. (He had an abnormally large heart and chronic heart disease.) 'I do not know what came over Mr. Harbalis to cause his sudden violent behaviour that night, but it is tragic that he was not able to receive the help he clearly needed,' Dineen said. Surveillance footage shows Frank Harbalis attacking two Jack Astor's managers, including hitting one with a chair, before being restrained by the managers and good Samaritans Alexander Campbell and Tyler Josling. Source: Ontario Superior Court Exhibit Crown attorney Andrew Pilla argued that Campbell used excessive force by putting Harbalis in a chokehold, while Josling encouraged Campbell by saying, 'put him to sleep.' Pilla also argued that their motivation wasn't purely defensive, but rather 'punitive' because of Harbalis's actions toward the female bartender earlier, which the two men had witnessed. Defence lawyer Peter Thorning argued any force applied by Campbell was defensive and reasonable, while Josling's lawyer Marco Sciarra disputed that he did anything to encourage unreasonable force. Dineen rejected some of the evidence from several eyewitnesses called by the Crown, as some of their recollections were contradicted by surveillance footage, while others couldn't remember if their recollection was based on what they saw or what they heard from someone else. One of the managers told police he observed Campbell place Harbalis in a brief chokehold at the start of the struggle, but testified that after watching Ultimate Fighting Championship matches, he no longer believes what he saw was a chokehold, but possibly Campbell placing his arm around Harbalis's shoulder. The other manager testified he never saw anyone do anything to Harbalis other than try to hold him down. Dineen accepted a patron saw Campbell place Harbalis in a chokehold at the beginning of the struggle for about 80 seconds when the much larger Harbalis was still trying to get up, but the judge was unable to find that either defendant applied any other force afterward, other than holding Harbalis down. 'It is possible that Mr. Campbell choked Mr. Harbalis for some extended period during this time with the encouragement of Mr. Josling and possible that this could have caused death by asphyxia rather than heart failure,' Dineen said. 'I find, however, that the evidence is equally consistent with a brief period of choking in the very early stages of the struggle that was one cause of a later sudden cardiac failure.' The judge concluded that Campbell's actions were not criminal; given that finding, the judge said he wasn't required to determine whether Josling had been abetting him. 'I find that the most that has been proven is that the defendants may have made a brief misjudgment about the amount of force necessary and appropriate to get Mr. Harbalis under control,' Dineen said. 'They were making decisions in the face of a real threat of harm to others and with little time for careful consideration. They were trying to help. I do not believe that they meant to cause serious harm to Mr. Harbalis. I also do not believe that it can be said that this brief misjudgment rose to the level of being unreasonable in all of the circumstances, making criminal liability appropriate.' Campbell and Josling declined to comment Tuesday, with the latter giving a thumbs up as he exited the courthouse with his family. Thorning said his client, Campbell, was 'grateful to the judge for reviewing the evidence in such a close and careful way.' Josling's lawyer, Sciarra, said it was unfortunate what happened to Harbalis, but that it was never anyone's intention for him to die. 'They're the only two people in a bar full of people who helped,' Sciarra said. 'I think they were being prosecuted for the very fact that they did what nobody else did, which is help these two managers who both testified that without their help, they would have probably not been here to testify at this trial.'
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Pa Dineen hat trick helps Millstreet land hurling league win against Castlemagner
Much of the third quarter remained a close affair but the tide turned in Millstreet's favour once Dineen completed his hat trick of goals DUHALLOW JUNIOR 'A' HURLING LEAGUE
