Bogus maple syrup from a Quebec manufacturer has been found on grocery store shelves

Radio-Canada Investigate The program uncovered a major Quebec maple syrup producer selling fake maple syrup in cans on store shelves.

The investigation began by chance, when a Radio-Canada reporter noticed that the maple syrup he bought at the grocery store had an unusual taste, and wondered why it did.

Investigate traced the can, labeled “pure maple syrup,” to a producer based in Saint-Chrysostome in the Montérégie region southwest of Montreal, Steve Bourdeau.

Bourdeau's syrup cans are identified by his company number 9227-8712 Québec inc. or under the name “Érablière Steve Bourdeau.”

Investigate bought five cans of Bourdeau syrup from any of the different stores and groups and took them to the provincial laboratory responsible for testing and ensuring the quality control of maple syrup in Quebec, in the center ACERfor analysis.

The results were ambiguous.

All five cans, each labeled “pure maple syrup,” contain at least 50 percent cane sugar.

“It's the first time I've seen this kind of deception. You can see that it's cane sugar that's just been added to cans,” Luc Lagacé, biologist and research director at ACER, told. Investigate.

“This is not an accident. It was done on purpose.”

'Totally illegal'

Investigate they had two people posing as grocery store buyers to reach Bourdeau.

They recorded phone conversations with him and later met him at his farm, taking pictures with a hidden camera.

Bourdeau told Investigate His syrup group is sold in hundreds of grocery stores across Quebec, including large chains such as IGA and Metro.

He said in the hidden camera footage that it was illegal to cut maple syrup that was labeled as pure sugar and that he didn't do it.

But he talked about his ability to slow down his opponents.

“I'm the best when it comes to prices. Others can't even come close.”

Bourdeau told the undercover Investigate The group was selling cans of maple syrup in grocery stores for less than $5 a can, citing other unspecified illegal practices.

“There's a lot of jealousy going on. Because I have a market. And it's totally illegal. And I got away with it.”

The manufacturer blames the suppliers

Investigate confronted Bourdeau later with the results of his investigation.

He declined to do an on-camera interview, but had several phone conversations with her Investigate and finally sent an email answering some questions.

Bourdeau initially said test results showing his sugar-cut syrup was “impossible,” but then suggested the blame may lie with some of his suppliers in other states.

Bourdeau previously told the undercover Investigate a group that, in addition to making its own syrup, buys most of its syrup in bulk from suppliers in New Brunswick and Ontario, and cans it itself.

Isabelle Lapointe, head of the Quebec Federation of Maple Syrup Producers, known by its French acronym PPAQ, said. Investigate it is illegal for that.

“A manufacturer can have a business relationship with another manufacturer in Ontario. We have no control over that,” said Lapointe.

“The producer is still responsible for ensuring that it meets the applicable standards in Quebec.”

Bourdeau also agreed Investigate in a phone interview after being confronted with the test results that he sometimes bought syrup in Ontario and sold it in cans labeled “product of Quebec,” which is illegal.

1 in Quebec

Quebec is the largest producer of syrup in the world, and most of the syrup produced here is subject to strict regulation.

ACER has the authority to ensure the quality control of syrup produced and sold in bulk in Quebec.

Geneviève Clermont, head of ACER's inspection unit, says 90 percent of the syrup from Quebec that is sold in bulk is inspected.

“Since we've been there, we've never found a fake syrup.”

But ACER does not test syrup in cans sold directly by manufacturers to grocery stores, which is how Bourdeau sells its syrup.

“Our job is to analyze large containers,” said Clermont.

“We don't categorize maple syrup from a manufacturer that sells directly to a supermarket.”

Lagacé said such syrup would be subject to random testing, but it could be systematically tested like bulk syrup.

Maple syrup produced in large quantities in other provinces is not tested as rigorously as syrup in Quebec.

“We are very proud of this in Quebec. The producers are very proud of this. And Quebec consumers – they can see the difference,” said Lagacé.

He said if people have doubts about maple syrup labeled as pure and from Quebec, they can complain to the province's Ministry of Agriculture, Fish and Food (MAPAQ) or the producers' association.

The producer says he will make changes

In the last communication no Investigate In an email, Bourdeau said it fully complies with all applicable laws and regulations.

He said he is starting his own investigation to try to find out where his fake syrup came from and plans to use his test system.

But Bourdeau said he has no plans to try to recover or buy the fake syrup he sold to grocery stores that may still be on store shelves.

“It will go very well. In two or three weeks, there won't be much left. We won't be able to do much about it.”