If a product says "product of Canada", it simply means that it is a product of Canada being sold to the public. Products don't necessarily have to be grown or produced in Canada in order to be "products of Canada". As long as Canada is buying the products, whether it's from another country or whatever, it is buying the product and owns it, so they can literally say that it is a "product of Canada". If anyone has a problem with this, they should consult their government, which had led the way in buying outside of Canada. Posted by: Maja | Oct 24, 07 07:53 PM

This was a very informative show....It is now making me more cautious of what I am buying and where it is from....It kind of makes you want to go buy a farm and raise and grow your own food. Posted by: Belinda | Oct 24, 07 07:58 PM

Thank you for the most useful information on tonight's Marketplace. Frankly, I am outraged that our government would tolerate this fraud. I hope something will be done and the consumer will be told the truth. Posted by: Mira Rasche | Oct 24, 07 08:00 PM

Great work on tonight's "Product of Canada" show! I was interested to hear that High Liner, and presumably other companies that process food in China, ensures all mandatory testing and monitoring is completed. I've always understood that the mandatory testing and monitoring standards are set in the country of origin, not the destination country. So, are these High Liner products tested to China's health and safety standards or Canada's standards? Posted by: Adam McAllister | Oct 24, 07 08:02 PM

You left out of your report that the law allows this kind of labeling. It is a result of our branch plant economy when these foreign companies got the laws changed, so that anything, such as packaging, that is made or any money spent, counts toward Canadian content. Change the laws. Posted by: Michael Beaupre' | Oct 24, 07 08:03 PM

Isn't it illegal to have misleading advertising? I was not too surprised to find that a lot of the food we buy in the grocery store is shipped from other countries and just packaged here. I buy locally at every opportunity and that way at least I know where the food is coming from and supporting local farmers. It seems there are two standards, one for the gov't allowing misleading advertising in manufacturing and another for us if we tried it ! Posted by: Ms. J. E. Chard | Oct 24, 07 08:04 PM

The next show should ask why these large companies are bringing in food from half way around the world instead of buying our Canadian grown food. Why are we so expensive that they have to bring in processed food via China? Posted by: Arlene Tousignant | Oct 24, 07 08:04 PM

Good work on the "product of Canada" My new pair of jeans, that I bought at Mark's Work Warehouse say made in Canada. I wonder... Posted by: paul | Oct 24, 07 08:06 PM

I've been suspecting for a long time that various prepared foods were not coming from Canadian producers but rather from offshore sources. I've always been more of a "from scratch cook" and never relied much on prepared meals, but I'm more convinced than ever that my recent switch to more local chains (Farm Boy) and farmers markets was the right thing to do to help sustain Canadian food producers and protect my family. Posted by: Agathe Cloutier | Oct 24, 07 08:07 PM

It boils down to the companies' integrity, if they are willing to lie or stretch the truth about the Made in Canada label. I have to question what else they are lying about. My rule is if I find out you can no longer trust the company and the brand they stand for. I no longer buy their products or invest. High Liner products is now on my list. CEOs had better start listening. Posted by: Wayne Clackett | Oct 24, 07 08:07 PM

With all of this information it seems daunting to process and determine what we can do as the consumers of food products. What I think Marketplace needs to do is focus the end of the show on how to get involved as concerned consumers. It is not enough to question the label of the food you are buying; we as consumers need to start changing our consumer habits. To help people understand how they can make small changes to their food consumption Marketplace should do an episode on how to shop locally and how the benefits of this simple act can go to shape the way Canadians as a whole have the power to change the food industry. The "product of Canada" label fiasco is due to the years of unquestioned consumer traits, but as more people change and have the education on how to make a difference we can put an end to large food corporations feeding us lies in the form of dinner. Posted by: Mr. C. Eakins | Oct 24, 07 08:09 PM

I was surprised to see how uncooperative the Loblaws information line was. I know now that I will DEFINITELY be looking more closely at the labels and calling the numbers on the packaging. Posted by: Charlotte | Oct 24, 07 08:11 PM

Just last week I swore that I was going to phone High Liner and tell them that I wasn't going to purchase fish from them in the future, mainly because they do say right on the box "product of China". I just can't believe that we in Canada have two huge oceans and we've to import our fish from questionable sources. Now I'm going to get in touch with my local MP and anyone else in government who will listen. We've a right to know what Canadian content is in everything we buy. Posted by: Gerry Murray | Oct 24, 07 08:12 PM

Isn't that false advertising? If the product which you are about to purchase or consume is not from Canada you should be warned about which cesspool that frozen fish was swimming in before he was caught. It's misleading the public and the laws and tariffs should be changed. Posted by: G. McKeown | Oct 24, 07 08:13 PM

When NAFTA came came to Canada, I found out that manufacturers had a lot of homework to do to ensure product was properly labelld. I know this first hand as the Packaging Analyst responsible for the packaging and labeling. We had to use statements like "Product of" and "Finished in" or "Made in". But there was no hiding where the major raw material came from. I am stunned that food manufacturers are allowed to ignore/disguise/mislead the consumer as to the source of their major raw material. Judging from how long it's taken your reporter/investigator to uncover the source for the three test products ( NN icecream, garlic, Highliner fish), we may all turn into "rabbits" before the average consumer finds out the source of any night's dinner. Posted by: Ingrid Kitchen | Oct 24, 07 08:13 PM

As an American I look for Canadian products because they seem to be superior than other products. "Product of Canada" doesn't mean the same as it did before seeing this segment. I purchased products from Canada for their quality. Do good things really come from Ontario? Posted by: C Beake | Oct 24, 07 08:13 PM

I phoned High Liner concerning their frozen fish. They told me that the cod was from China but all breaded fish was a product of Canada. After seeing marketplace on food origins I feel I was misled. Probably the bread came from Canada and God only knows were the fish came from. Posted by: J Mason | Oct 24, 07 08:15 PM

I wanted to know if you checked the spinach in grocery stores. I shop at the Superstore (affiliate of Zehrs) and when the spinach was recalled they put out bagged spinach to sell bulk. Labeled product of Canada. It was not a product of Canada, it was from the U.S. It is still being sold this way even after I brought this to the produce department. Is there anything that can be done about this? Posted by: Sue Harvey | Oct 24, 07 08:22 PM

I didn't realize what a 'product of Canada' label really meant until now. Over the past years I've become a lot more critical of what I eat and the products I purchase and this certainly helped to open my eyes to how misleading labels can be. Posted by: Diana | Oct 24, 07 08:33 PM

Hopefully this will become front page news across Canada in a day or so. “Lies and deceit in the name of corporate profits”. We can't believe Canadian companies are permitted to identify that a product that is clearly not a product of this country can be label that it is. Obviously, if companies like High Liner and Loblaw cannot operate with integrity, regulations need to be passed to ensure they don’t mislead consumers. They have demonstrated that they cannot be trusted. As a result of this story we will not be able to read the words “Product of Canada” on a label without remembering this report. We believe the feds should be called upon to change this practice – require companies to identify where a product is grown as well as processed or packed. Today we heard a news report the Health Minister announced a new Federal Website for consumers to check for recalls and warnings on products and food – an obvious response to tainted products coming from foreign countries like China. It appears the timing is right to bring this issue forward. We will be watching! Posted by: Richard | Oct 24, 07 08:50 PM

I was absolutely infuriated to learn about the misleading information on some of the frozen seafood packaging. It's bad enough that informed Canadians who practice conscientious living and eating habits are still finding themselves stricken with diseases like cancer in ever growing numbers. As consumers, they certainly have the legal right to know where the food originated as much as what ingredients were added to it. Posted by: David Knister | Oct 24, 07 09:04 PM

Sounds like we are being duped. Who do we contact in government to voice our concerns and pressure them to make changes to the current rules? Posted by: wanda gaber | Oct 24, 07 09:08 PM

Norfolk County, Canada's most diverse agricultural region, struggles constantly with the effect imports have on our growers, farmers and small businesses. Want to know where your "Product of Canada" apple juice comes from? We asked fruit drink manufacturers what our kids are drinking and you can read more at norfolkfarms.com. Posted by: Clark Hoskin | Oct 24, 07 09:21 PM

I was sad to see the manner in which you approached the Canadian food transformation industry sourcing integrity and professionals. Transformers and ingredient processors take consumers' opinions and interests very seriously with regards to product labeling at all stages of the production process. Transformers product and ingredient traceability programs, along with the Canadian food Inspection agency regulations and the Canadian Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points certification program, ensures that products being transformed in Canada are up to Canadian standards from import to final product. With a transformed food product such as a fish stick, it is most probable that certain ingredients could be sourced outside of Canada, but the fish is inspected before leaving its country of origin with a Canadian quality control process and so are the ingredients. These are again and again inspected at the multiple stages of the transforming process in a Canadian plant certified by the aforementioned Canadian government regulations with regards to product quality and product labeleing. Thus in my opinion a Canadian product. If it were transformed outside of Canada and then labeled a Canadian product, then you would have had a story. Posted by: maxime belanger | Oct 24, 07 09:39 PM

I never buy High Liner and noname brand and thank god for that from what I've seen tonight on your show. I boycott Loblaw cause they are too expensive and you have to pack your own groceries since they never have anyone to do it. I buy all my veggies at the farmer's market but will now go to a butcher for my meat and not grocery stores. Thank you Posted by: Helene | Oct 24, 07 09:59 PM

Walmart against Loblaws. Just another go. Posted by: Alex | Oct 24, 07 10:01 PM

While watching your show my wife went to our freezer and took out a 400 gr pkg of HL Haddock fillets.It actually notes "product of china" on the package. Seems,as your show depicts, that any product that has additional "prep" done in Canada is fair game for the "Product of Canada "label. As for the two "grocery giants" you surveyed products from {Loblaws and Sobeys-parent company of Price Chopper) I do beleive they try to purchase Canadian products but may have to go overseas to source the volume they require for their stores and as noted by one garlic producer on your show the price of Canadian product may also be a reason they do so. I do agree label info should change. Posted by: Ken Belanger | Oct 24, 07 10:12 PM

Finally someone is blowing this wide open. I fought and lost this battle years ago when I wrote the Federal Government about Product of Canada on Old South frozen orange juice. I never received a written response after writing 2 letters, but a young man in the Dept. told me essentially what you told us tonight. For shame. For a future show blow the lid off Kraft Parmesan Cheese and it's label saying 100% cheese. It's not 100% cheese but the government lets them get away with it. It's true. Posted by: sandra barnes | Oct 24, 07 10:15 PM

This show was informative at first, but as the show neared the end I had to give my head a shake. Do Canadians honestly think that all fish come from Canada? The ocean is the ocean. If the product is packaged in Canada then of course they can say it's a product of Canada. Just as if a t-shirt is made here instead of China they'd put made in Canada, regardless of where the yarn came from. And that isn't an issue. And also....I do support Canada, and we always support locally, but if people don't buy garlic from Canada because it isn't grown here, that's their choice. They have to realize that we don't have the climate to grow mass amounts of product here. Also...Canadians tend to be greedy...They'd rather work in the oil field for $30/hr then work on a garlic farm for $8/hr. Unless you are willing to pay $50 for a jar of garlic, it's cheaper to import the product. Posted by: Mel | Oct 24, 07 10:18 PM

I am appalled, but not surprised, at what our government allows to be called a "Product of Canada". We are quietly being smothered by deceit. Our health is being compromised. Our government officials now represent the interest of corporations, not the people who voted them in. Posted by: Deb Osborne | Oct 24, 07 10:22 PM

I am very upset to find out that the labeling product of Canada is not entirely (!) true. It is misleading to consumers like me who do the utmost to buy from Canada to support our economy even if the prices are higher. I am going to contact our agriculture minister and request changes. Posted by: DJ | Oct 24, 07 10:25 PM

I was shocked to learn where the fish was coming from that High Liner uses in their products.You would think our government would do more to make sure the food we are importing is safe. I will not be buying any High Liner products.But I was wondering, who buys the fish fishermen catch in Canada? Posted by: Cynthia | Oct 24, 07 10:49 PM

I've personally sent complaints to Loblaws and Highliner... I am so NOT impressed!! I'm boycotting all those brands, stores, etc. It makes me so mad. I would be willing to pay a LITTLE extra to have the food available in Canada used in Canada. That's always the problem with this darn country. Our imports should be 10-20%!!! Posted by: Zack | Oct 24, 07 10:59 PM

I go out of my way to BUY CANADIAN, and was completely clueless about this absurd 51% rule. If "Pacific Salmon" travels 25,000km before it hits our grocery shelf, there goes the "100 Mile Diet," even for those of us who live on the west coast. Posted by: Adrienne | Oct 24, 07 11:01 PM

I live in Seattle and have been watching the labels of origin of food I buy south of the border (which are also dubious, depending on the company or chain store), so this investigation was of particular interest. I am lucky to visit Canada very frequently, and will no longer purchase any items there that give no indication of the origin of the product besides the 'Made in Canada' label. I hope the law will change. Posted by: Emma | Oct 24, 07 11:11 PM

It's a deplorable practice indeed but the consumers are also naive to think what they are eating from a Made in Canada package is indeed from Canada. Nowadays there could be ingredients from 5-10 countries into a single package. If the retailers just say ingredients from multiple countries, it would be okay but they cannot make more money. The huge problem with the Made in Canada labeling is the products from countries which have been flagged as unhealthy or banned can still come totally un-noticed to Canada in a frozen block and get transformed here without a consumer ever knowing about what they ate. Posted by: adam | Oct 24, 07 11:19 PM

Ingredients in foodstuffs and their provenance are important. Though I make a point of passing over processed items for natural foods, I enjoy wine and so want to know how it gets made and shipped to my store, and what "Product of Canada" or the more honest "Cellared in Canada" really means. But even in a country as strict with their provenance rules as France is, you don't always get what you bargain for. Bottom line is that there's a certain trade-off when you buy processed foods and even knowledge of this may not be enough for the most careful consumer who is concerned about leaving a carbon footprint. Posted by: Marcus | Oct 24, 07 11:28 PM

Ingredients in foodstuffs and their provenance are important. Though I make a point of passing over processed items for natural foods, I enjoy wine and so want to know how it gets made and shipped to my store, and what "Product of Canada" or the more honest "Cellared in Canada" really means. But even in a country as strict with their provenance rules as France is, you don't always get what you bargain for. Bottom line is that there's a certain trade-off when you buy processed foods and even knowledge of this may not be enough for the most careful consumer who is concerned about leaving a carbon footprint. http://weingolb.blogspot.com/2007/10/muscadet-made-sur-lie-has-never-been_24.html Posted by: Marcus | Oct 24, 07 11:28 PM

If you want to look at another food product that has the same misleading labeling go no further than your local wine store. The shelves are loaded up in the Canadian section with bottles labeled in Product of Canada. You guessed it...the grapes never saw Canadian soil. Posted by: Tim Wilkins | Oct 24, 07 11:43 PM

I recently contacted a Provincial Agricultural site about finding Manitoba or at least Canadian lamb. I prefer Canadian lamb to the "fresh?" lamb sold in the supermarkets here. They gave me a list of local butchers who sell Manitoba Meat. I do have a butcher whose meat is all Manitoban, but for lamb I would have to buy a whole carcus. I also got a kick out of a flyer Safeway sent out a couple of months ago, telling us about their local produce. Local to them seemed to be Canadian, but to me it means Manitoban. A lot of their produce seems to be from Alberta or the signs say Canada/US, so you never really know at the time. Posted by: KM | Oct 24, 07 11:44 PM

I am a label reader and have paid more for food from Canada. I feel this is a betrayal of the public trust. Obviously profit for the food industry is priority here, not our health. Why not let the consumer decide what he wants to eat? If the price of local food is prohibitive, then a least one can make an educated decision. Posted by: M. SCHUT | Oct 25, 07 12:49 AM

Made in Canada is a way for our government to keep us in the dark. Is there anything left, on our store shelves that is actually a product of Canada, or is processed in Canada? No wonder people in this country are dying of mysterious illnesses. We don't even know what we're eating, or what is actually in our food. Let's wake up our government and push them, so our local food supply is the one used first. Maybe then our farmers and producers will be able to live off their lands. Posted by: jeanne | Oct 25, 07 06:18 AM

Thank you for inspiring me to shop at my local farmers' market. I used to trust "Product of Canada" labels, believing I was supporting Canadian food industry. I feel cheated by Superstore. Posted by: Kristy Simms | Oct 25, 07 09:02 AM

The Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canada's largest national farmers' organization, has been concerned with the question of "Product of Canada" for some time now. Our organization is currently lobbying the federal government to work with industry groups to develop a new "Grown in Canada" labeling system which would be placed only on foods that contain 100 per cent Canadian-grown produce. This would not replace the "Product of Canada" label, but work alongside it to give consumers better information and to promote buying Canadian. Posted by: Kieran Green | Oct 25, 07 09:07 AM

Why do we continue to do business with countries who put our health at risk? Its about time we stood up to our government. How does the FDA ensure that the food we eat is safe when as stated some of these are questionable? First tainted pet food, lead paint, now tainted human food? How can we stop this? Why do you think we have so much cancer now?? Not from the cigarettes they have been around for hundreds of years. Try the chemical, disease ridden food we eat and the pollution of the trucks which bring them here! Lets do something, petition our governments to stop Free Trade now! Posted by: K. | Oct 25, 07 09:12 AM

The program gave the impression that there were no fish caught and processed in Canada. I believe that this is in error. there are fish caught in Canada, albeit a very small amount. check with Danny Williams. Posted by: ron madigan | Oct 25, 07 10:33 AM

As is usual, I watch a Wendy Mesley report and have to fight the urge to throw things at my TV. Why does she take on these inane fights regarding issues that anyone with any modicum of common sense should know to avoid? What?!? Tilapia and Basa filets aren't a "Product of Canada"...because those species are so common in Canadian waters. I'm sorry, but if you pick up a box of tilapia fillets and think the fish is from Canada, you aren't very smart. There is an easy solution to this problem. Buy fresh food. Fresh produce, meat, fish, dairy and grains hold a minimum of surprises. Buying processed foods means buyer beware. Having said that, the proposed amendment to make "Product of Canada" mean 51% of raw materials, instead of 51% input costs is a good one. But until that time, I'm afraid people may have to just use their own common sense and intelligence, or let Wendy tell you what to do. She has all the answers.... Posted by: Scott H. | Oct 25, 07 10:41 AM

I am wondering what the KING of importers, Wal-mart, is doing then? This company has been the worst for not supporting North American production. I doubt if I will ever buy anything from their stores. Posted by: Alex | Oct 25, 07 10:42 AM

This whole story is rather disturbing and even more sad. Our agricultural business is facing a pretty difficult uphill battle. But on the other hand I think all these are driven by us, the consumers. I'm pretty sure if people are given a choice between a more expensive local product and a cheap "import", they will mostly choose the cheaper one. I support the local farmer and like local products but usually can not afford them. Still, this 51% rule is absurd. Posted by: Peter | Oct 25, 07 11:05 AM

And we have the nerve to call some countries"third-world countries," when this kind of betrayal of public trust and systematized corruption is happening, steered by profit seeking corporations and vote seeking politicians. Who gets to make these stupid 51% rules and gamble with our health? I rarely bought any processed food but now I do not think I will be buying it at all. When the mad cow scare was happening in the UK, I stopped buying chocolate or any milk products from Europe but to find out now that the butter-oil sugar mixture being sold as made in Canada was from the UK... Posted by: Vicky | Oct 25, 07 11:27 AM

Too bad the agriculture minister could/would not give Wendy an interview. What are they afraid of? They have already sold out Canada to foreign buyers. No real surprise about the misleading food labellng. Posted by: Fort | Oct 25, 07 11:30 AM

So what is made here anymore? Can anyone tell me? Why are we selling out so quick by buying foreign? I like a bumper sticker I saw a few weeks ago. It said STILL GOT A JOB? BUY FOREIGN. Posted by: Fran | Oct 25, 07 11:32 AM

Shouldn't you be talking about the real issue. People who steal grocery carts from stores like Loblaws. I'm surprised that you didn't get arrested for wheeling a cart around Ontario. Those carts are worth over $100.00 and if I was Loblaws I would have called the Police. Why is Marketplace picking on selected companies? Wouldn't every retailer be in the same situation? Why aren't you mainly confronting the government? They are the ones that are allow this to happen. People want products for the cheapest price and don't really care where it comes from. Even the ladies that were complaining about product not from Canada will be at Loblaws and other retailers next week buying the same out of country products. It's a free global market get used to it. Otherwise live on a farm. Posted by: Bill | Oct 25, 07 11:34 AM

It is scary to know that we are eating foods that could potentially make us very ill and our government continues to shut its eyes to it. We are over run by large, corporate organizations that are putting the local farmers out of business. We as Canadians need to make a stand, yes the imported foods are cheaper, but are we willing to put our welfare at risk for a buck? Maybe the government needs to be re-evaluating its responsibilities. They need to create a better system that will encourage and support locally grown products. Posted by: Nelia | Oct 25, 07 11:37 AM

It may take me longer to do my grocery shopping but from now on I will be reading the entire package of everything I buy. And Santa will be getting a request for an ice cream maker. I will never buy "New Zealand" ice cream again. I am a Canadian and I support my own. Posted by: Cheryl | Oct 25, 07 12:43 PM

However, I wish you hadn't focused solely on Loblaws. Couldn't you have sent your book club ladies into a Walmart, Dominion or A&P;? Couldn't you have pushed your shopping cart into any of their head offices? (How very Michael Moore of you by the way.) Loblaws and the Westons are one of our last big Canadian companies, and they are desperately trying to compete with American giants like Walmart, which are also doing the exact same things. Your report's focus on the Weston family's Loblaws, Real Canadian Superstores, and the products they carry, made it sound as if they were the only ones doing this and that what they are doing verges on the illegal. (No, I don't work for them in any capacity. I just appreciate being able to take my business to Canadian companies.) The focus should really be on federal and provincial levels of Canadian government that are allowing this to happen. Government should make origin of ingredients labels mandatory. I know the show is only a half hour, but I also would have liked you to try and pursue the politicians accountable for policy in this area. Maybe you could do a part two on this topic? Posted by: Kristine | Oct 25, 07 01:51 PM

I purchased two packages of Salmon from High Liner and called the number shown on the package. I waited for 15 minutes until a gentleman answered. I enquired where their fish was caught he said Russia and Norway.In answer to my question then why does the package say 'made in china" He said we have our own packaging plant in China and all the packaging of the salmon that I had purchased was packaged there. If you have the time call the number. We need to be aware. I will stop buying High Linder in the future. I purchase my food from the farmers market and other local buyers and have for some years. Posted by: Irene Scharf | Oct 25, 07 02:51 PM

Many of you are upset regarding the label "product of Canada" but have you thought about what it would cost us to actually use all Canadian ingredients? In my eyes, it's just not practical. And unless someone can show me how Canada's health and safety standards for food are better than those in other countries, then frankly, I don't care where the food comes from. If you want to make sure you get Canadian products, shop at the farmers market. I wouldn't be so quick to put down food products from other countries, after all, Canada has its own problems. Remember Walkerton? People actually died from drinking unsafe water! Posted by: Colleen | Oct 25, 07 03:00 PM

Here are two aspects that you missed. 1. You should have tested the products to see if they do meet Canadian guidelines (i.e. heavy metals, antibiotics etc.). I avoid Chinese shrimp because of the carcinogenic antibiotics - I hope Canadian manufacturers do the same. 2. Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) is a hot topic in the US right now. They want to see the country of origin on products so that consumers can make the decision - perhaps we should wake up as well, considering they have been working on it for over 5 years. By the way - shame on Canadian food manufacturers for hiding behind legislation instead of doing the right thing! Posted by: Scott M | Oct 25, 07 03:15 PM

Absolutely infuriating. Everything you pick up these days is "Made in China". How did we let this happen? After the pet food fiasco, toy recall etc. I am very leery of anything "Made in China" especially any food "Grown in China" I refused to purchase canned mandarin oranges labeled product of China for .49 cents. Instead I bought Del Monte labeled "Product of Canada" for $2.69. Boy was I ripped off! A few months back we watched a documentary on shrimp farming in China. Needless to say we do not buy shrimp any longer. I blame the Federal Government for allowing these big corporations to mislead the Canadian consumer, they are just out for the almighty buck. If they can get away with it, then why not. Posted by: Patricia B | Oct 25, 07 04:09 PM

You get what you pay for. If anyone should wonder why processed foods are so cheap, you saw the answer on this show. Packaged and process foods such as the ones shown tonight are garbage and you can bet the executives of these companies are not stocking their fridges and freezers at home with their own products. No name brands are huge margin money makers for the supermarkets that is why they sell them however the nutritional value is ZERO! Who buys a jar of garlic when you can buy it fresh? How could the fish possibly come from the east coast when there has been a fishing moratorium for years? Anyone buying these frozen seafood products knowing now that they are all farm raised seafood stocks in foreign countries will be in a shock when they find out the conditions in which these species are raised. People reading this post, please try and buy locally and stop supporting the large companies who have been shafting naive consumers for years. Put them out of business. They knowingly lie to us! Posted by: Michael | Oct 25, 07 04:56 PM

I am a grain farmer and was appalled that the garlic I use comes from CHINA? At least California garlic has some kind of USDA regulations. Wasn't China responsible for melamine in pet food? If this country is poisoning our dogs (and children) what makes us so sure that any of the food products (including raw ingredients) would be fit for consumption? Like the one garlic producer on the show said "I would be concerned about what is going on their soil", exactly. What is the cheapest fertilizer available in China? Are there ANY pesticide or herbicide regulations? Posted by: KL | Oct 25, 07 08:24 PM

I found another interesting fact regarding our food labelling laws/regulations...I noticed that the "transfat free" Kraft Peanut Butter had no oil separation. Wow I said, they must have come up with a new process...because who really like the oil separation, but I like transfats even less! Upon closer examination of the list of ingredients, I see hydrogenated! I call Kraft and they tell me that under Cdn regulations, if there is less than 0.5 grams per serving, the product can be labelled "transfat free" AND they can list that the product has 0 grams of transfat per serving. Much like "Product of Canada"! Posted by: John | Oct 25, 07 09:18 PM

This is very wrong. It is unfortunate that there are no watch dogs in the department of labeling. I mean the government did not even give you a chance to converse regarding the misinformation written on a label! Posted by: Leanne | Oct 25, 07 09:25 PM

The notion that these labeling laws were secret or that the public is being duped are patently false. These regulations are fully available to the public, should they choose to learn what the claims made on labels actually mean in a legal sense. The competition bureau has an informative summary of the relevant Canadian laws. The link and an excerpt are included below. Notice the date on the web page: 2001-11-08 [Revised 2002-01-22] http://www.competitionbureau.gc.ca/internet/index.cfm?itemID=1231≶=e In its analysis of a declaration claiming Canada to be the country of origin of goods incorporating foreign raw materials or components, the Bureau applies the following rules: (1) the last substantial transformation of the goods must have occurred in Canada, and (2) at least 51% of the total direct costs of producing or manufacturing the goods is Canadian. Posted by: Kris | Oct 26, 07 10:43 AM

What was not mentioned is a very important fact: why companies are importing ingredents. I would be very surprised and disappointed in the Loblaws PR if she did not explain that the reason they import ingredents is to keep cost down. People should be clearly aware that buying locally grown food is much more expensive. Also I feel much more secure about knowing where my food is manufactured (out of country meat processing for example) than knowing where it was grown. The bottom line is that if you want food that is local, don't complain to the cashier that it cost too much. Posted by: Khrystyne Heasley | Oct 26, 07 10:51 AM

I was not surprised that you could not find a fisherman in Lunenburg to talk to about the fish at Highliner. After all, by buying their fish in other countries, they are the reason that most fisherman can't afford to keep fishing. This is also the reason that most farms are shutting down and the beef, pork and chicken plants as well. If Canadians keep buying products from other countries we are all doomed. Posted by: Rose Hicken | Oct 26, 07 01:35 PM

I now find myself disillusioned and not wanting to shop at the local grocery store unless I can purchase Canadian products. Posted by: Linda Thomson | Oct 26, 07 05:10 PM

The laws regarding labels should be changed.I am now concerned about the safety of our food. I will no longer be buying High Liner products. Haven't these companies learned anything from the pet food recall earlier this year that was made from wheat gluten that was purchased from China? Posted by: Suzanne LaBelle | Oct 26, 07 06:08 PM

On the morning that marketplace aired, I gave a talk to 58 high school students and several teachers as they toured our new store called "Local Family Farms" in Southwestern Ontario. I explained to the students that all of our products are grown or made within 100 kms of our store because that is what our customers want and expect. Most often when people shop at large stores, they do not typically question the origins of their food. I am confident that with more exposure on the importance of local food and its ecological footprint, Canadians will ask more questions. Local food is not always more expensive but often times is. That's what happens when you deal with small companies/farms....no different than any other small business. And the phrase "I can't afford it" is all very relative. What people will pay for what they put in their mouths is a matter of priorities. Many farmers in our area have been aware of the labeling regulations for some time and have been working closely with government to make changes. We belong to a farm organization that lobbies on behalf of farmers. It is a long, hard battle for farmers to lobby changes in legislation that would benefit food production in this country. But the road is a lot less lonely when the consumers are on board. I speak on behalf of many farmers in saying thank you for your report. Posted by: Kim Perry | Oct 26, 07 09:44 PM

I think you zero in on Loblaws too much. May I suggest places like Wal-mart have led the way to the mess we are in. That company has gone out of its way to be a pipeline for Chinese goods into every household in North America. Smaller companies are just trying to stay afloat by following Wal-mart's example. I blame the Bentonville Beast for being the author of our sellout to 3rd world slave labour conditions and standards. Posted by: Jeff A. | Oct 27, 07 12:33 AM

I'm a political science student with a food-issues lean and have until now been very disappointed with the lack of attention food-issues have been getting in Canadian media. I think this show was a good gateway for people to begin questioning the origin of their foods. Hopefully the viewers will be inclined to do more research on their own, because there is a wealth of information out there. Posted by: Laura S. | Oct 27, 07 04:03 PM

HL and other fish plants import fish from various countries rather than catch and process fish caught in Canadian waters. My concern is about fish caught in Canadian waters that is sent to plants in China for processing, and then sent back to Canada where it is sold. The claim is that it costs too much to process the fish in Canada. If the fish is caught in Canada but processed in China, is it labeled as "Product of Canada" or "Product of China?" Posted by: Frank | Oct 27, 07 04:11 PM

One continually wonders about the legitimacy of claims made about many things we utilize, consume and environmentally share in our world(s)---an interesting story maybe to search for those apparently few leaders, in any segment of our society, who dispense legitimate information as opposed to spun data designed only to satisfy their agendas. Posted by: Brad P. | Oct 27, 07 04:14 PM

Next time you shop at your local "“farmer’s" market or roadside fruit/veg stand ask the person selling the product where their farm is located or where the product was produced. Ever wonder how the roadside fruit stand set up in a shopping plaza parking lot can have large red strawberries, sweet corn, extra large peaches or melons in May when the local season is still 2 to 3 months away? Numerous times when shopping at farmer’s markets located in South/Central Ontario I have seen a few vendors peddling these items disguised as “local” repackaged in baskets or quarts. The product is obviously not local but U.S. or Mexican purchased from wholesale markets like the Toronto Food Terminal. So for those of you that romanticize about that Saturday morning trip with the family to your local farmer’s market and think you are supporting “local” you’d better ask the vendor the origin of their goods because not all is as it may appear. Farmer's markets are not inspected by provincial agriculture ministries or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to the same extent your major grocery store is. In Ontario, the major grocery chains have inspectors checking the country of origin signage in the Produce sections to ensure the accuacy of the information and the Produce Manager can be fined by the provincial inspector if the information is not accurate. The CFIA also inspects imported Produce that arrives into the major grocery chains distribution centres to make sure the product is labelled correctly for both country of origin and the address of where the product came from. Before you make the decision to boycott your grocery store and run to the farmer's market get all the facts first. Posted by: Dan | Oct 27, 07 05:51 PM

I find it disturbing that this show would not take the time to present a balanced rational approach to the issue. The CFIA has clear rules about country of origin and all High Liner and others are doing is following the rules. If you have a problem with the rules then examine why they are there and do not present the company as a fraud just because they obey the country's legislation. The country of origin laws are there in part to ensure that the last point of manufacture of any product is listed so that liability issues are clear. Is this system perfect? Of course not. A balanced report would have outlined both sides of the issue and presented a reasoned alternative like country of manufacture and country of growth etc. As many of the posters have mentioned anyone thinking tilapia is caught in Canadian waters is a few bricks short of a load. Here's hoping that news shows can get back to balanced reporting instead of promoting hysteria and sensationalism. Posted by: joe | Oct 27, 07 06:13 PM

Fundamental changes need to be made to the rules and regulations governing how products are labeled in Canada. My suggestions are: * All products must be clearly labeled as to origin of content materials. * All products must be clearly labeled as to country of production and/or manufacture. * "Product of Canada" or "Made in Canada" means what it says. The source of the materials is Canadian and the production or manufacture and even the container is "Canadian". * Any item bearing a Canadian symbol, Canadian flag, Red Maple leaf, or Canadian beaver; Any product for the purposes of promoting, directly or indirectly, Canada, it's provinces or communities, or identify as Canadian by any means, must be totally "Made in Canada". Posted by: Richard Tilley | Oct 27, 07 06:54 PM

I buy local beef and visit my farmers market almost every weekend...but the High Liner products really oepned my eyes. I am not much of a label reader, but I would NEVER have thought that fish being labeled Product of Canada was raised 1/2 way around the world or fished in an area where there is a high ratio of lead/mercury in the water. Hey if the USA says they have a ban on something...I think we should keep that in mind. Posted by: Mary A | Oct 27, 07 07:40 PM

This is yet another form of how corporations exploit advertising in an extremely consumer driven society. Canadians are so focused on getting what they want, that, unfortunately, they don't care (at all) where it comes from, at least not enough to research it. The textiles industry is a perfect example, because it was one of the first areas to exploit cheaper labor products. If people really cared, then it would be represented in the market place and there would be stronger support for "home grown" items. Posted by: Matt Neeve | Oct 27, 07 08:04 PM

What concerns me most about this story is - unsurprisingly for CBC - is what they do not explain. The reason that ice cream is not made with Canadian milk is because consumers are being held hostage to a government-mandated dairy production monopoly, backed by provincial legislation and sky-high Canadian tariffs. It's really simple: our milk costs are highly inflated, to the point that it is cheaper to import milk substitutes from New Zealand than use local milk. New Zealand scrapped its monopoly quota system years ago and now it's a world-leader in milk exports, with far better prices on domestic milk and dairy products than we pay in Canada. Rather than fanning the flames of nationalist protectionism, it would be nice, just once, to see Wendy and the CBC actually try to understand how an open 'marketplace' is beneficial for all. Posted by: TGW | Oct 27, 07 08:13 PM

I have just watched the show - thank you so much for doing this for the Canadian public. I have read a few of the comments: if some people feel that instead of blatant deception this is "just" following the law, why is it not the law that everything in and around the product must say where it ORIGINATED. e.g. fish from Thailand; sauce from Australia; box from Canada. Give us the honest facts... I am so disgusted right now I can't even think straight. I feel lied to and deceived. It's my stomach, it's my money... shouldn't it be MY choice to eat food from certain countries.... it's just one big lie after another with these big companies and their shareholders. Posted by: Valerie Jackson | Oct 27, 07 08:35 PM

Why are we surprised when products that we import from China are contaminated or sub-standard? We know that this is a third world country with very low standards and even fewer regulations regarding the manufacture of goods. Our government has even encouraged corporations to go there and set up shop. Now we are importing goods that are toxic and contaminated and the CFIA doesn't have the resources to inspect the food that is coming in to ensure that it meets our standards. Well...why don't we make the companies that are doing the importing prove that the product has been tested and meets our standards before it enters Canadian territory? After all, they are the ones making all the profits so why shouldn't they pay the price of policing their imports. This might give our local producers a fighting chance to compete with these cheaper imports. Posted by: Kathryn D. | Oct 28, 07 12:54 AM

This is yet another example of the collusion between government and corporate interests. The law was written in the interests of giant food producers, and not the consumer. Posted by: John | Oct 28, 07 09:05 AM

I am more confused than ever now as to what to eat from the stores. I just wish more was being produced in Canada and we could be assured of it by our governments and local authorities. I look at the label of everything I buy and I thought I was doing o.k. but now I feel like am being had because the hidden info of the product isn't there for me to see. We need more companies to speak out and tell us if they are totally Canadian and I'm sure more of us will support them. Posted by: linda c | Oct 28, 07 11:30 AM

It's time for all Canadians to get "as mad as hell" over these below standard food products! This is about our health and welfare. It's about our farmers and the people that make this country great. We are destroying the very fabric of this land to save 40 cents on a can of apple juice. Come on people! We need to stand together and say enough is enough. Posted by: Michael Ryan | Oct 28, 07 11:31 AM

I read all labels and had never thought I wasn't buying products from Canada. It is incomprehensible that our government allows this to happen to it's people. I will never again buy High Liner products because now I am not sure it is safe and I am not supporting the Canadian fisherman. I will buy local fresh fish. As for the ice cream I am not sure what I will buy from now on. I have to know more before deciding. Posted by: Dorothy Thibodeau | Oct 28, 07 11:35 AM

How can our government, law makers and big business do this to us? How can they all mislead us like this? It isn't right. Maybe everyone should boycott buying the products until either the labels are changed to reflect the truth, where the food comes from and where it's processed or we start putting our own foods on the shelves again. Thankfully my husband and I don't purchase any of these goods, we usually purchase local meat and produce and don't eat processed, boxed or frozen foods. We must ask ourselves, though, how can we change this, what can we do? Posted by: Wink Phillips | Oct 28, 07 11:36 AM

Although I am a label reader and amateur food researcher, I was fooled by the High Liner Wild Pacific Salmon for about 6 months! Sometimes we think we know more than we really know. Posted by: A. Davis | Oct 28, 07 12:34 PM

I'm not surprised about the content in our foods. Having worked for a major soup & cracker manufacturer and seeing the process you begin to understand how they work the government labeling system. During the BSE scare in Canada beef was brought in frozen from Argentina. Most of the vegetables are frozen from who knows where. Most of Canadian content was mushrooms and some milk solids. All other ingredients are imported, but the final canned product is manufactured here in Toronto. When Trans-Fats became a concern oils were switched but the amount of crackers per serving went down so they could claim 'Trans-Fat FREE'. Even though the oil and fat solid ingredients were changed the serving still contained trace elements of trans-fats. Reducing the serving size allowed the company to claim trans-fat free because it now fell below the government standards for making the' Trans-fat FREE' claim. Even though it still contains some traces of trans fat. Confusing? So are the packaging laws. Just ask the packaging design companies who work for the manufacturers. Posted by: Alex | Oct 28, 07 12:38 PM

It is important that we try to get the 51 per cent rule changed. Please everyone let your opinion be heard in Ottawa by voicing your concerns to your local MP and emailing the Minister of Agriculture. Hopefully, human food safety will not suffer the same consequences as our pet food! Posted by: JUDY BEATTY | Oct 28, 07 01:09 PM

Several months ago, I started really looking at the labels of food I was buying and was shocked at the number of products that said, Product of China and other countries. So, I made a conscious effort to buy items that said, Product of Canada. I was outraged to see I have been misled by food companies and our government in thinking that these products came from Canada. As a consumer, I have a right to know where these products are from. Posted by: Cathy Dick | Oct 28, 07 02:12 PM

I often spend a few minutes reading labels in the grocery store isles before I put something in my cart. I am looking for the line "Product of Canada." It is my assurance that the food I am buying is produced to the highest quality standards with regard to other important factors such as environmental sustainability, fair pay for employees and lowest food miles. It's perplexing to learn that "Product of Canada" is not always true. The supermarkets belong to the large multinationals because of convenience and clout. A big reason why a local farmer can not get his products on the shelf is because they compete with products from the multinational that the grocery store wouldn't risk retaliation against. It can be argued that a chain supermarket's main income comes not from selling food but selling "shelf space." Posted by: Ben Millson | Oct 28, 07 02:46 PM

All the public wants is honesty about the food and where it comes from. Then it is up the person to decide if to buy it or not. I don't care if other countries sell their product here or not but I care if they deceive me on its point of origin. I am going to my garden and local meat, fish and grain supply, at least I know where that came from. Posted by: Larry | Oct 28, 07 03:08 PM

This is driving me nuts when I go grocery shopping these days and sometimes I spend more time label reading than buying the food. Posted by: E Cheung | Oct 28, 07 03:25 PM

I know I have chosen to buy what I though were Canadian products over imported food products. I have to say, though, when I went to pop my President's Choice Blue Menu breaded chicken breasts into the oven, I found myself wondering where the chicken actually came from. With all the diseased birds in Asia, I really do want to know where the chicken came from. I really wish chicken had been addressed on the show. Posted by: heather goodwin | Oct 28, 07 03:34 PM

Thank you for this recent program. Although food manufacturers are following the law, I can't help but feel I am being duped. In certain instances, such as Pacific Salmon, we as consumers would assume it is from Canada. Or Canada Garlic ... from China? This is not to say the Chinese producers of garlic are not better than ours or that I wouldn't purchase it because the price was better. I simply disagree with being misled. Posted by: Kathy K. | Oct 28, 07 03:38 PM

As a farmer, I was overjoyed to see Marketplace take on this issue. Agriculture, even the dairy industry, have been fighting & lobbying for years to try to get our federal government to pay attention to these issues. Consumers must demand our government change our requirements for labelling. "Made in Canada or Product of Canada" should mean more than this farce we are seeing. I do believe that consumers thought they were doing the right thing. When they weren't looking our large food processors changed their buying because the rules said they could. Processors buy Chinese apples for juice while our farmers must pull their orchards out of the ground because they can't earn enough to keep those orchards going. How stupid are we? Posted by: SW | Oct 28, 07 03:50 PM

I honestly felt brainwashed by Captain High Liner and the made in Canada guarantee, especially the Pacific Salmon! Brainwashed that our made in Canada standards are automatically implemented elsewhere in the world of globalization for our food supply. As for Garlic, I have bought two braids of LOCAL Garlic which will last me through the winter. So Loblaws you can keep your made in China garlic. Posted by: Heidi Wright | Oct 28, 07 04:32 PM

I wonder where all the prepackaged vegetables come from in various stores. On quite a few of them there is no information at all. Posted by: Don B. | Oct 28, 07 05:30 PM

Just another disgusting display of how our government screws around with our money and shows little regard for our people. Add this to the phrase "Prepared for Sobeys in Missisauga, Ont" that absolutely avoids the whole issue. Is this, too, okay? My reference to government applies to all parties. What a terrific show of concern for the Canadian people, eh? Posted by: Edward Mackie | Oct 28, 07 06:04 PM

I guess the food manufacturers and grocery chains have found a loop hole. With the Canadian dollar at par with the American, they don't have to lower their prices as it is "made in Canada". Being from Newfoundland I am already accustomed to seeing "Newfoundland cod" and finding out it is a product of china, but now that I have watched your show and heard of the health risks of some seafood packaged or caught in foreign countries, I will make it a point to buy local. Posted by: Gerald N | Oct 28, 07 06:11 PM

I am appalled that we are being so misled. Why can't the labels tell us where our food comes from so we can make an informed decision as to whether we want to buy it or not. I have never felt so duped. I buy local more and more, but in the winter that is difficult when you live in a small Ontario town. It would be nice to see Marketplace do a "how to buy local" or even Canadian websites to buy from so we can eat in a healthy way. Our cancer rates are high enough in this Country.... I'm sure this is due to the lovely food being imported with chemicals into our country and being bought by us, unknowingly. Posted by: Helen | Oct 28, 07 08:51 PM

Unfortunately for some local businesses who have produced and do produce a local product their demise has already come or is looming on the horizon, this broadcast is just a little bit too late. We also should be looking at our own CFIA and Ministries of Agriculture and Food. For years these organizations have made it extremely difficult and stressful to keep producing a good, healthy, SAFE and nutritious product which could be sold locally. Yet when questioned as to how and why questionable products are allowed into our country, the simple statement is made "we do not have enough people to monitor every situation." The only time they become concerned about products from out of Canada is when there are difficulties with it, such as food poisoning, salmonella, e. coli, etc. Maybe both of these agencies (CFIA and Ministry of Agriculture and Food) should actually take a look once and decide that perhaps local producers are not the bad guy in this situation but maybe out of country producers should be put under the scrutiny and that local producers must endure. Then, perhaps, there will be a shift and consumers can once again buy with reassurance that their products are safe to take home and feed to their families. Posted by: Steve | Oct 28, 07 08:59 PM

The Green Party of Canada is the only party that can be relied on to fix the messes we are forced to eat. Full disclosure and real accountability to the Canadian public will not happen with the corporate owned political parties that take turns ruling. Heathy food should be a basic right. Posted by: Mike Bray | Oct 28, 07 10:19 PM

It is about time consumers finally know the truth. Now finally everyone will know why the farmers are fighting with the government. Canada was a bread basket to the world, but thanks to government with all the standards, prices, costs, etc they have wiped our great country of the most precious thing for life. FOOD. What will we eat? Our homeland provided food for us before, and supplied the other countries as well. The food we have now isn't fit for man nor beast. No wonder obesity, cancer and other diseases are on the rise, we don't even know what we are putting in our mouth. It is time consumers too wake up, and listen to the people who know what is going on.To purchase any meat from a farmer, you can't "" DUE TO RESTRICTIONS"", The meat is considered a health threat??? Yet the government brings in food that people can't even consume? So wake up Canadians, your life just might depend on it. Posted by: marilyn eadie | Oct 28, 07 11:21 PM

As a family with two children we try and look at the food we feed our children. It is very disappointing to see how little our government cares for us and our families, that they don't even have the time to talk about is problem. We will no longer buy High Liner fish and we never buy no name (there's a reason no one puts their name on the product. Now we know why.) Posted by: Al Bodnarchuk | Oct 29, 07 10:06 AM

We can easily and have produced, through aquaculture, non-indigenous species of shrimp here in Alberta. These are the type of salt water prawns, Pacific whites & Black Tiger shrimp you usually see in your local supermarket that are imported from Thailand & China. We have struggled for over 7 years trying to obtain financing through several government sectors with no avail, nor is there any substantial funding for aquaculture in Canada. Our intent was to produce a larger commercial operation to be able to supply the freshest, high quality shrimp ever seen and produced in Canada at a descent price. It is easily, economically and environmentally feasible. Luckily, through our own pockets and a extremely small investor we finally got the ball rolling. Again the local farmer pays his taxes but still has to fork out the big bucks. Posted by: John Tremblay | Oct 29, 07 10:40 AM

As a dairy farmer, I would like to inform the consumer that the only way to ensure that your Ice Cream is mainly from Canadian sources is to check the ingredients label. If the first ingredient is FRESH CREAM then you can be assured most of the ingredients originate in Canada. Posted by: Brian Hastie | Oct 29, 07 10:59 AM

I have been phoning 800 numbers and asking questions when the label say "imported by" and lists a Canadian name as importer. I don't get great answers, mostly "from the states" and they don't or won't say who makes it. If we keep putting the pressure on them, maybe they will listen. Re Canadian garlic. If it is manufactured in Canada people will pay extra when the bottle beside it lists it true origin. How do we put pressure on the government? Posted by: Donald Boyle | Oct 29, 07 11:00 AM

Before giving your money to the big corporations, go support your local Farmer's Market. Your money is better spent in trying to support your neighbours and local communities. Some produce might be a little more expensive than what you'll find at Loblaws, but think about how much you'll be saving in medical bills when the food you eat isn't sending you to the hospital. Posted by: David B. | Oct 29, 07 11:24 AM

Galen Weston Junior needs to take pride in 100% Canadian grown and manufactured products and put them out there on the Loblaws shelves. Have a big sign advertising which farm the products came from - consumers will have the opportunity to by Canadian. And Galen Jr: when Wendy Mesley or anyone else calls Loblaws head office to get simple answers, your employees should simply give them - it looks bad to be so evasive. Posted by: Kelly | Oct 29, 07 11:29 AM

I'd like to echo Ms Tousignant's comment. Are you planning a second show which investigates why it's cheaper to ship shrimp across the Pacific TWICE than to use shrimp caught locally? It's all well and good for us to "tut tut" at the grocery giants for not buying locally but if a shrimp who's traveled more in the last month than I have in the last year is cheaper than one caught locally, something is VERY wrong and it's not the grocer's fault. (There's nothing in our culture that says you have to go out of business before buying foreign.) Posted by: Jim | Oct 29, 07 11:41 AM

I work for the David Suzuki Foundation. We have a letter on our website to the Government of Canada requesting a very comprehensive labelling law for seafood. Please check it out at http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Oceans/Take_Action/Eco-labelling_Letter.asp To make choices that support long term sustainability in the oceans, people need to be able to know where and how their seafood was farmed or caught. SeaChoice.org is a program we are a part of that aims to help Canadian businesses and indivuduals make choices that support healthy oceans. Posted by: Jay Ritchlin | Oct 29, 07 01:34 PM

The misleading labeling of products as "Made in Canada" is disgusting. I regularly pay a little extra to support the Canadian economy and to show non-support for items that come from half way around the world at the expense of our own manufacturers/growers, not to mention the cost to the environment. I urge everyone who is concerned to cast your vote with your dollars. And when you buy produce at the local farmers' market, you can chat with the grower, face to face, and know exactly what you're getting. Posted by: Veronica | Oct 29, 07 07:08 PM

In Nova Scotia there is available (primarily haddock) a quick-frozen product that is hard to distinguish from fresh, even by the locals. It is wild-caught in the Atlantic ocean, iced at sea for no more than four days, and processed in a state of the art production facility in West Pubnico. It is really and truly a product of Canada; further a product of the Maritimes. So beware Canadians, you have a choice and Chinese-processed seafood should not be in your shopping cart. Posted by: Karen | Oct 29, 07 07:13 PM

I can't believe that the Canadian government would allow all this deception. We live in a country of freedom and plenty. It is the Canadian government's responsibility to protect Canadians that are paying to eat good foods to be nourishing and safe products. This information is so discouraging and disgusting to say the least. If the Canadian government doesn't want to take action against this process of deception and do what is right for the people they need to step down and allow honest people do their job. Posted by: Danielle | Oct 29, 07 09:34 PM

My brother-in-law watched your program and then told me about it. I watched it on my PC...The remarkable thing was it was only a month ago I had told him about this wonderful company, called Europe's Best..Gourmet Delight. I am very fussy and it was great. He said he really liked it and then read the back of the package. "Product Of china" called "Europes Best". All three of us will not eat anymore...even if it was worth its dollar in taste. Posted by: terry-ann stowell | Oct 29, 07 11:04 PM

Please leave New Zealand out of this discussion. They have some of the most stringent laws regarding their food.... what they will import or export. I am Canadian, have been to New Zealand 4 times, and am amazed at how they treat good wholesome food!! Posted by: joyce | Oct 30, 07 05:26 PM

This is just so shocking, I knew that god knows what goes into pet food, but not to know where to actually are food comes its just plain weird! I bought Europe's Best veggies to and my eyes almost popped out when I noticed on the back 'Product of China'. I guess I will not complain about prices when I go next time to the farmer's market! Posted by: Beata | Oct 30, 07 05:34 PM

Product of Canada -- clearly no info for consumers. It could be from anywhre. This is shocking! Most of the world is more polluted than Canada. Hence Canadians must be able to know where the produce was grown, where the fish came out of the watrer (high seas or near the shore of - what? China?), This is all a profiit grab at the expense of our health. Ecologically it grossly increases the use of fuel -- therefore is unsustainable. Forget the one ton challenge to Canadians, Rick, go after these corporations who would rather poison us than forego making another nickel! I'm writing the PM (pm@pm.ca), the leader of the opposition (dion.s@parl.gc.ca), etc, next. The disinformation that is ever more obnoxious has to stop. I always bought Canadian (or so I thought) now I see I might have been buying god knows whose product. I want to know. Untill the laws change, I am shopping at farmers markets, and farmers outlets. Posted by: Eva Lyman | Oct 30, 07 06:39 PM

Thank you for shedding some light on what's really going on in our food chain. When we travel abroad...we sort of expect that the quality is not to what we consider our safer standards in Canada( not so)?!? I consider myself to be quite educated on this topic. I have always been conscious of what I put in my grocery cart...HOWEVER...many products not only hide (as mentioned in your report) but also many times do not even mention where the product comes from anyhow. I was just looking at a 'Post' Wheat bran cereal box...I just could not find any indication where this product is made...very disturbing to say the least. To think that I also give this as a treat to my dog. By the way, I only feed him organic dog food $$...but I'm wondering if this is just a continued false security? Posted by: Claudia, Laval, Quebec | Oct 31, 07 07:43 AM

Here's the problem as I see it. Those babbling chickens you had on the show squawking about where their food comes from are the very same people who will complain bitterly when they have to pay over 10$ for their little bottle of minced garlic. They would never think of mincing their own garlic because it takes far too long: they have to take their kids to soccer or ballet, and the husband is too incompetent to do anything other than make money. This country will continue to accept "Made in Canada" as long as cheap convenience remains the number one consumer need. Look at your self-imposed hectic lifestyle and see if you can afford the time to go to your local farmers market — OR FROM FARM TO FARM — and buy your dinner. Everyday. Why don't you do a show on why Canadians are idiots? Posted by: bruce m lloyd | Oct 31, 07 11:03 AM

Are there any companies in Canada who really do sell salmon caught in Canadian waters and if so, who are they? Posted by: Marilynn Shwets | Nov 5, 07 08:08 PM

Absolutely misleading advertising. Shame on Loblaw's for their prevarication, and on the federal gov't for allowing this kind of labelling ! Outrageous ! Posted by: I. Bell | Nov 7, 07 03:26 PM

A complicated matter, our food supply. One reason we are going so far afield for food is that we've exhausted our local fish stocks and paved over a lot of our farmland. Now that we're closing on 33 million people, we almost certainly could not feed ourselves a balanced diet with foods produced locally. Using current methods, we may even need to question whether that would be doing the right thing. One commentator said we could count on Canadian foods being less contaminated, another that it is produced in environmentally sustainable, labour-fair ways. There is another show for you: it is the furthest thing from the truth. We produce much of our food with huge inputs of fossil fuel and pesticide. It would probably shock Canadians even more to understand that much of our local food is produce using what is effectively slave labour by undocumented (illegal) foreign workers and seasonal foreign workers here under official government programs. While the program rules call for decent working conditions, there is preciously little oversight and massive abuse. Posted by: TD | Nov 7, 07 10:26 PM

This report does not inform; it perpetuates bigotry and small-minded attitudes. Anyone who understands trade and food regulations is aware that ingredients are sourced from around the world. A more informative, less sensationalist report would have explained the regulations and why food is traded (and has been for millennia). Should Italian pasta, for example, say of product of Canada (because it includes wheat grown in Canada?). A little understanding of how food is processed would have enlightened the public as to the subtleties and complexities of the issue. Posted by: M.Mitchell | Nov 13, 07 01:01 PM

Very interesting, but it seems that you should go more after the government than the companies. The companies are fully within their legal right to advertise this way it seems - and if one does it the other ones have to as well to not lose market share. It seems that the real problem is the law. It seems that for food the regulations should be that maybe 90% of the food content was produced in Canada? Maybe create another law that regulates "Farmed in Canada" or "Grown in Canada"? Posted by: Mark | Nov 14, 07 07:40 PM

We’re wondering who (within our government) we could pressure to make these labels more clear. Posted by: Shari Pottle | Nov 14, 07 09:02 PM

A pity I only got to watch this today . What to needs to be addressed is our government's complicity in serving corporate needs and keeping the people as ignorant as possible. That's the only way power can be retained and the public purse raided. Posted by: Kevin | Nov 17, 07 08:41 PM

I come across the words "Imported by..." on food packaging, but no mention of where the product was grown or produced! This makes me mad not knowing where the product is actually from, so I do not buy it. I would also like to see on the labels where all ingredients come from, or at least the main ingredients, since some food has more that 30 ingredients. Posted by: Mike Hart | Dec 4, 07 01:07 AM

I'm not surprised that many products we buy that claim they are made in Canada are sourced elsewhere. All the more reason for consumers to buy locally as possible to ensure quality, safety, and the satisfaction knowing we can contribute to our local economy. Posted by: Ron Prouse | Dec 15, 07 08:00 PM

I was wondering, who buys the fish fishermen catch in Canada? Posted by: doug | Dec 15, 07 08:20 PM

Ideally there would be full disclosure of ingredient sources and it would allow consumers to make a more informed choice. We may no longer have room for the product name. I mean how far would we have to disclose sources… gluten from where? Wheat to make the gluten from where? seed from where? For example Canada is the largest exporter of wheat to China but we buy wheat gluten from China. Therefore is the gluten Canadian or Chinese? The government has allowed a loop hole that allows the final product to be claimed as Canadian. In a capitalistic society companies take any advantage available to cut the bottom line, thus in this case utilizing their resources and advances in logistics and international trade. Profit is not a dirty word. We must remember also that the products that were investigated on this episode were not raw fish or whole garlic cloves, they were processed foods, meaning the end product is not the same as the raw ingredients. In turn making these imported ingredients in to a "new" product and thus a Canadian product. It's a technicality, but in the end is it not better to support a company that provides Canadians with jobs than to support totally foreign commerce? These companies highlighted should not be persecuted for following government guidelines. Building awareness is essential to change however what is the result of the story? Has the government started to consider a change in policy or have these companies suffered without even a dimple in the government policy? Posted by: gabe | Dec 15, 07 09:02 PM

I just watched a repeat of your "Product of Canada" show. I was skeptical of the labels before, but now I really don't trust them. I should be able to make an informed decision when I read the label on a package, but I can't do that when I'm given misleading information. I cannot understand how the government allows such a thing! Is this not false advertising? If it is legal then we must do something to change it. It is a matter of life and death. Posted by: marisa | Dec 15, 07 10:30 PM

It would appear that Canadians are being kept in the dark as to the source of our food products. We feel it is time for new laws governing our food importing. It is really alarming to think we are eating fish that isn't processed here. Especially as we live in P.E.I. Posted by: Ila Lord | Dec 16, 07 11:31 AM

I really enjoyed this episode. It's great to see this issue being explored and put it and companies to the test. I'm really proud of Canada, and for companies to be using the 'Product of Canada' label, without the product really being from Canada makes me queasy. I'd like to see this labeling system changed as soon as possible. I really hope this issue gets resolved responsibly. I work in the wine industry and it's a similar story with wine. 'Cellarded in Canada' wines are not Canadian wine. They require very little Canadian juice, something like 30%, and one year it was as low as 1% juice due to a short crop. Thanks to VQA, Canadian wine has a standard that ensures 100% Ontario/Canadian grapes. But on the same note, the companies that do produce VQA also produce the 'Cellared in Canada' wines, so they are also to blame for the confusion in wine as well....let's rejoice in Canada's brand and values and try to buy local/drink local and spread our standards of living to the world! Posted by: Paxton | Dec 16, 07 12:38 PM

If anyone has ever tried to export something from Canada to the U.S. for sale they know full well what needs to be on a commercial Customs declaration. The same should be law for food and other products we buy. The label should have to disclose Country of origin for the principal object, substance, fluid, or item contained in the package. Posted by: Lou | Dec 16, 07 06:12 PM

I am very outraged on how this is happening to us consumers on what we buy in grocery stores. It is now making us more cautious on where to buy from that is why alot of people are now starting to buy from the local farmers market. Posted by: B.S. | Dec 17, 07 09:11 AM

I don't understand why High Liner just doesn't state that the fish is from another country. What is the big deal about doing that? That way no one is misled. Posted by: graham linnen | Dec 17, 07 11:01 AM