A Quebec maple syrup producer facing a proposed class-action lawsuit for selling fake syrup is now facing additional defendants as major grocery store chains. The lawsuit alleges that the grocery stores should have taken more responsibility to ensure the purity of the product they were selling. The legal documents, filed by law firm Slater Vecchio, accused the grocery stores of negligence and indifference in selling the counterfeit maple syrup.
Originally directed at syrup producer Steve Bourdeau after claims of selling syrup cut with cane sugar, the lawsuit has now included grocery chains Metro, Sobeys, Loblaws, and Epicia Group as defendants. The lead plaintiff, Maude Fraser-Jodoin, a Quebec consumer, purchased multiple cans of the fake syrup. Bourdeau was captured on hidden camera footage boasting about his widespread distribution in Quebec and Ontario, selling hundreds of thousands of cans at low prices in various stores.
The proposed class action is seeking full refunds and punitive damages of $100 for anyone in Canada who bought Bourdeau’s syrup since April 7, 2023. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people could be eligible for compensation, pending court approval. While some stores offered refunds after the initial broadcast, the lawsuit argues that a class action is necessary to ensure justice and full compensation for affected consumers.
The lawsuit claims that the grocery stores should have been cautious about the suspiciously low prices of Bourdeau’s syrup and should have conducted proper due diligence before selling it. Referring to inspection reports from Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry, the lawsuit alleges that Metro, Sobeys, and Epicia were aware of quality complaints regarding Bourdeau’s syrup as far back as 2016. While Metro, Sobeys, and Epicia have expressed intentions to challenge the class action, Loblaws is yet to respond formally.
Bourdeau denied altering his syrup in April, shifting blame to his suppliers and promising an investigation into the issue. Health Canada issued a recall notice for all his products in June due to container defects and spoilage, with Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry also launching an investigation into Bourdeau’s operations.