A Quebec maple syrup producer facing a proposed class-action lawsuit for selling counterfeit syrup is now being sued along with major grocery store chains. The lawsuit alleges that these stores should have taken more steps to ensure the authenticity of the maple syrup they were selling to customers.
According to legal documents filed by the law firm Slater Vecchio, the grocery stores displayed negligence in selling the syrup over several years, betraying the trust of their customers. The lawsuit, initially directed at syrup producer Steve Bourdeau, exposed that cans of syrup sold to stores were adulterated with at least 50% cane sugar despite being labeled as pure maple syrup.
The lawsuit’s amendment now includes grocery chains Metro, Sobeys, Loblaws, and Epicia Group as defendants. Maude Fraser-Jodoin, a Quebec consumer who bought four cans of the fake syrup, is the lead plaintiff in the case.
Steve Bourdeau, caught on hidden camera footage by Radio-Canada’s Enquête, boasted about the widespread distribution of his syrup in numerous Quebec and Ontario grocery stores, including major chains. He mentioned selling hundreds of thousands of cans annually at prices as low as $4.99.
The 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 indicates that potentially hundreds of thousands or even millions of individuals could qualify for compensation, pending court approval.
Despite some stores offering refunds post-exposure, the lawsuit argues that this is insufficient. It asserts that the class action process is crucial to ensure just compensation, including interest and punitive damages, for affected consumers.
The lawsuit alleges that grocery stores should have been cautious in selling the suspiciously cheap syrup and points to inspection reports from Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry indicating early awareness of quality complaints about Bourdeau’s products. While Metro, Sobeys, and Epicia plan to challenge the class action, Loblaws is yet to respond formally.
Bourdeau denied tampering with his syrup, shifting blame to his suppliers. In response to product integrity issues, Health Canada issued a recall notice for all Bourdeau’s products in June, with Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry conducting its own investigation into Bourdeau’s operations.