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Victoria grocer fined $2,000 for mislabelling produce

A Victoria grocer has been fined $2,000 for selling and advertising fresh produce falsely labelled as organic. Banana Belt Holdings, doing business as Banana Belt Fine Foods, was fined after entering a guilty plea in Victoria Provincial Court on March 6, 2003, to one count of violating the Food and Drugs Act.

Two inspectors with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) visited the store in August, 2002, in response to two consumer complaints. A CFIA investigation revealed that some of the fruits and vegetables for sale advertised as “organic,” were in fact not organic. In part, section 5(1) of the Food and Drugs Act states that no person shall label, sell or advertise any food in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive.

When a product is misrepresented, it can have an impact on the consumer’s ability to make informed decisions about what they buy and eat. It can also have a impact on competing fresh produce outlets. The CFIA is committed to ensuring a safe food supply and accurate product information for Canadians. The CFIA encourages consumer complaints about suspected non-compliance with the Food and Drugs Act.

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