An investigation by Canada's national broadcaster has found that a major Quebec producer has been diluting its maple syrup with cane sugar and selling the fraudulent product to grocery chains. The scandal was uncovered by Radio-Canada's Enquête programme, which used covert recordings and false identities to expose the deception.
Samples of the syrup, sold in hundreds of locations across Quebec, were sent to Le Centre ACER, the province's research and testing facility. Luc Lagacé, the centre's microbiologist and research director, said: 'This is the first time I've seen falsification of this kind. This is not an accident. It's deliberate.'
The investigation began when a Radio-Canada reporter noticed his maple syrup tasted odd; testing revealed it was adulterated with cane sugar. The producer, Steve Bourdeau, allegedly told journalists posing as buyers that he knew it was illegal to cut pure maple syrup with other sugars, but claimed he did not do so. His syrup is sold by major chains including IGA and Metro.
Bourdeau initially denied the allegations before suggesting a supplier from outside the province was to blame. He said he would launch his own investigation. Geneviève Clermont, head of ACER's inspection division, noted that 90% of bulk syrup from Quebec is tested, but products canned and sold by producers themselves are not inspected regularly.
Maple syrup is a dominant industry in Quebec, worth nearly C$1bn annually. The province accounts for nearly three-quarters of global production. However, the industry has faced past criminal activity, including a 2011 heist where syrup worth C$18m was stolen from a strategic reserve.
