Investigation Uncovers Fake Maple Syrup Sales
An investigation by Radio-Canada has revealed that a major maple syrup producer in Quebec sold products labelled as “pure maple syrup” that were mixed with large amounts of cane sugar.
The inquiry began when a journalist noticed an unusual taste in syrup purchased from a local store. As a result, the investigative program Enquête traced the product back to a producer based in Saint-Chrysostome in the Montérégie region.
Lab Tests Confirm Adulteration
The investigation identified the producer as Steve Bourdeau, operating under a numbered company and business name. Investigators then bought five cans of syrup from different stores and batches for testing.
They sent the samples to Centre ACER, the provincial laboratory responsible for quality control. Test results clearly showed that all five cans contained at least 50 percent cane sugar, despite being labelled as pure maple syrup.
According to ACER’s research director, this type of falsification is deliberate and not accidental.
Undercover Investigation Raises Questions
To gather more information, the Enquête team conducted an undercover operation. Investigators posed as buyers and recorded conversations with Bourdeau before visiting his farm with hidden cameras.
During these interactions, Bourdeau claimed that his syrup products were widely sold across Quebec, including in major retail chains. At the same time, he denied mixing other sugars into syrup labelled as pure.
However, he suggested that his ability to offer lower prices than competitors helped him dominate the market. He also hinted at practices that may not fully comply with regulations.
Producer Responds to Allegations
When confronted with the laboratory findings, Bourdeau rejected the results at first and called them impossible. Later, he suggested that suppliers from other provinces might be responsible for the contamination.
He explained that he both produces syrup and purchases it in bulk from regions such as New Brunswick and Ontario before packaging it for sale.
Industry Response
Meanwhile, Isabelle Lapointe, a representative of the provincial maple syrup producers’ federation, stated that buying syrup from other suppliers is legal. However, the investigation continues to raise concerns about product authenticity and labeling standards in the industry.
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