A Quebec maple syrup producer facing a proposed class-action lawsuit for selling fake syrup is now facing additional defendants – major grocery store chains. The lawsuit alleges that these stores should have taken more steps to ensure the authenticity of the maple syrup they were selling to customers. The legal documents filed by law firm Slater Vecchio earlier this month accused the grocery stores of negligence, recklessness, and indifference by selling the fake maple syrup without verifying its purity.
Initially directed at syrup producer Steve Bourdeau in April, the lawsuit was expanded this month to include grocery store chains Metro, Sobeys, Loblaws, and Epicia Group, which operates Val-Mont grocery stores in Quebec, as defendants. Maude Fraser-Jodoin, a Quebec consumer who bought at least four cans of the counterfeit syrup, is the lead plaintiff in the case.
Bourdeau was exposed by Radio-Canada’s Enquête program for selling syrup cans to grocery stores that were mixed with at least 50 percent cane sugar but labeled as pure maple syrup. He claimed to have sold hundreds of thousands of cans in Quebec and Ontario, including in big chains, at a low price of $4.99 each.
The class-action lawsuit seeks full refunds and $100 in punitive damages for anyone in Canada who purchased Bourdeau’s syrup since April 7, 2023. It estimates that hundreds of thousands or even millions of people may be eligible for compensation, pending court approval.
While some grocery stores offered refunds after the Enquête report, the lawsuit argues that this is insufficient. It asserts that the class action is necessary to ensure justice for affected consumers and demands interest and additional punitive damages for them.
The lawsuit alleges that the grocery store chains should have been cautious before selling the fake syrup due to its unusually low price compared to genuine products. It references inspection reports from Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry, indicating that Metro, Sobeys, and Epicia were aware of complaints about Bourdeau’s syrup quality as far back as 2016 and 2025.
Metro, Sobeys, and Epicia have stated their intent to challenge the class action request, while Loblaws has yet to respond formally. Bourdeau denied altering his syrup in April, attributing the issue to his suppliers and promising to investigate. Health Canada issued a recall notice for all Bourdeau’s products in June due to container defects and spoilage, with Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry also conducting an investigation into his operation.
