A Quebec maple syrup producer facing a class-action lawsuit for selling counterfeit syrup now has major grocery chains implicated in the legal battle. The lawsuit alleges that the grocery stores, including Metro, Sobeys, Loblaws, and Epicia Group, should have taken more care to ensure the authenticity of the syrup they were selling to consumers.
The legal documents filed by law firm Slater Vecchio accuse the grocery stores of negligence and indifference towards their customers by selling the fake maple syrup for several years. Initially targeted at syrup producer Steve Bourdeau, the lawsuit was expanded to include the grocery chains as defendants.
The lead plaintiff, Maude Fraser-Jodoin, a Quebec consumer, bought at least four cans of the bogus syrup. Hidden camera footage from Radio-Canada’s Enquête program captured Bourdeau boasting about selling large quantities of the syrup at low prices in numerous Quebec and Ontario grocery stores.
The proposed class action seeks full refunds and $100 in punitive damages for anyone in Canada who purchased Bourdeau’s syrup since April 7, 2023. The lawsuit estimates that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people could be eligible for compensation, pending court approval.
Despite some grocery stores offering refunds after the scandal broke, the lawsuit argues that a class action is necessary to ensure justice for affected consumers. It demands compensation with interest and additional punitive damages for those who purchased the fake syrup.
The legal action asserts that the grocery stores should have been cautious in selling the low-priced syrup, citing inspection reports from Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry that raised concerns about the syrup’s quality dating back to as early as 2016. While Metro, Sobeys, and Epicia plan to challenge the class action request, Loblaws is yet to respond formally.
Bourdeau denied altering the syrup and placed the blame on his suppliers, promising to investigate the issue. Health Canada issued a recall notice for Bourdeau’s products in June due to container integrity defects and spoilage. Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry is also conducting an investigation into Bourdeau’s operations.