A Quebec maple syrup producer facing a proposed class-action lawsuit for selling counterfeit syrup is now seeing several major grocery store chains added as defendants. The lawsuit alleges that these grocery stores should have taken more steps to ensure the authenticity of the maple syrup they were selling to consumers.
Legal documents filed by law firm Slater Vecchio claim that grocery stores displayed negligence, recklessness, or carelessness by selling the syrup without verifying its purity. The lawsuit initially targeted syrup producer Steve Bourdeau after it was revealed that his products were adulterated with cane sugar, despite being labeled as pure maple syrup.
The lead plaintiff, Maude Fraser-Jodoin, a Quebec consumer, bought four cans of the fake syrup. The lawsuit now includes grocery chains Metro, Sobeys, Loblaws, and Epicia Group as defendants.
Bourdeau, captured in hidden camera footage, boasted about selling his syrup at low prices in numerous grocery stores in Quebec and Ontario. 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 suggests that hundreds of thousands or even millions of people may be eligible for compensation, pending court approval. Grocery stores offered refunds for the syrup following the expose, but the lawsuit argues that this is insufficient.
It contends that consumers deserve compensation with interest and additional punitive damages. The lawsuit claims that grocery stores should have been cautious before selling the suspiciously low-priced syrup. Reports from Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry indicated that Metro, Sobeys, and Epicia were aware of complaints about the syrup’s quality in previous years.
While Metro, Sobeys, and Epicia plan to contest the class action, Loblaws has not responded formally. Bourdeau denied altering the syrup and attributed the issue to his suppliers. Health Canada issued a recall notice for Bourdeau’s products in June due to container integrity defects and spoilage, and Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry is investigating Bourdeau’s operations.