A year after the rise of the “Buy Canadian” movement across the nation, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is taking action against grocery stores that falsely promote imported goods as Canadian. This year, the federal food regulator has fined two Loblaw-owned grocery stores for such violations. Additionally, the CFIA is currently investigating Canadian labeling and advertising practices at Sobeys’ headquarters.
Responding to the public’s strong preference to support Canadian businesses and products, the agency emphasized its commitment to safeguarding consumers from deceptive claims. The Buy Canadian movement gained momentum in February 2025 following U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade disputes, prompting many retailers to capitalize on patriotism through the use of national symbols and signage to highlight domestic items.
In a previous report from CBC News, it was revealed that in 2025, the CFIA identified 27 instances of misleading country-of-origin declarations by grocers, mostly major chains. Despite earlier criticisms for not imposing fines, the CFIA has now shifted its enforcement strategy. Recently, a Loblaw-owned Fortinos store in Toronto was fined $10,000 for misrepresenting a foreign-made product.
The specific violation at Fortinos involved the display of Président-brand Rondelé specialty cheese spread with an 11-point maple leaf symbol on the shelf tag, despite the cheese being manufactured in France. This enforcement action marks a significant change in the CFIA’s approach to ensuring accurate product representations in the marketplace.
