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 precautions to ensure the authenticity of the maple syrup they were selling to consumers. The legal documents filed by law firm Slater Vecchio accused the grocery stores of negligence, recklessness, and apathy towards customer trust by distributing the fake maple syrup over several years.
Initially focused on producer Steve Bourdeau, the class-action lawsuit emerged in April following an investigative report by Radio-Canada’s Enquête program, which revealed that Bourdeau had supplied grocery stores with syrup containing at least 50% cane sugar, despite being labeled as pure maple syrup. The lawsuit recently sought to include grocery store chains Metro, Sobeys, Loblaws, and Epicia Group as additional defendants.
The lead plaintiff in the case, Maude Fraser-Jodoin, a Quebec consumer who purchased multiple cans of the counterfeit syrup, is seeking full refunds and $100 in punitive damages for every individual in Canada who bought Bourdeau’s syrup since April 7, 2023. The lawsuit suggests that potentially hundreds of thousands or even millions of people could be eligible for compensation, pending court approval.
Bourdeau, captured on hidden camera footage from Enquête, bragged about the extensive distribution of his products in Quebec and Ontario grocery stores, including major chains, at a discounted price. The lawsuit argues that the grocery stores should have recognized the fake syrup due to its unusually low cost compared to authentic maple syrup products.
While some grocery stores offered refunds post the Enquête report, the lawsuit claims that this action is insufficient and emphasizes the necessity of a class-action lawsuit to ensure justice for affected consumers. The legal action also demands interest on refunds and additional punitive damages for the deceived buyers.
Moreover, the lawsuit cites inspection reports from Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry indicating that Metro, Sobeys, and Epicia had prior knowledge or should have been aware of complaints regarding the quality of Bourdeau’s syrup dating back to 2016 and 2025, respectively. While Metro, Sobeys, and Epicia have expressed their intention to dispute the class-action request, Loblaws is yet to provide a formal response.
Bourdeau denied altering his syrup in the Enquête interview, shifting the blame to his suppliers for the issue. Health Canada issued a recall notice for all of Bourdeau’s products in June, citing container integrity defects and spoilage, and Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry is currently investigating Bourdeau’s business operations.
