Grocery stores are the last place you?ll expect to be sold some fraudulent products. The more surprising thing about this is this is all about being sold some organic chicken that was never organic, to begin with!
It is no secret that organic products cost more than regular grocery items. You surely won?t be receiving it well if you hear that what you?ve been paying a premium price for isn?t what it claims to be.
Not Your Kind of Chicken
That?s what the issue is in here. Cericola Farms, an Ontario poultry producer, has been recently reported in a Globe and Mail article to be charged with mislabeling their regular chicken with a ?certified organic? label.
According to the Globe, many company representatives appeared in the court in Barrie recently to face 8 charges of fraud, false labeling, and misrepresentation. The charges were filed after a CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) inspection.
Some people may think that this is only a trivial matter. After all, some people see no difference with ?posh? organic grocery versus regular food items. The truth is, the charges are incredibly scandalous.
But why?
Organic products are typically sold at a price that can be as much as double as regular counterparts, this fraud case is extra troubling.
Cericola Farms issued a statement to the Globe denying the allegations and saying that The Globe?s reports are unfounded. They also added that their facilities are routinely inspected by several regulators including the CFIA.
Not the First
Cericola is not the first company to face a mislabeling and misrepresentation issue although they?re denying the allegations.
The Globe shares that Cericola?s former director of operations came forward last year and shared that fraudulent labeling has been an ongoing concern at the company. The former director of operations shared that she has personally witnessed the ?certified organic? label being applied to regular chicken that was meant to be sent to chain grocers.
In view of this, Blue Goose issued a statement in 2015 stating that Cericola denied the allegations and told them that the accusations were false. Cericola also claimed that they?ve been compliant in all inspections and audits in connection to Blue Goose and that they aren?t involved in any improper labeling.
Current Situation
The Globe says that as of now, they still do not know if Blue Goose and big grocers will still distribute or sell Cericola goods.
We also do not know what will come out of these charges although it is still a positive thing that this came to light so that consumers can be more careful about being a victim of fraudulent food labeling. It is certainly wrong to charge shoppers a premium for deliberately mislabeled food items.
If you?ve got a say in this issue, do you think that Mississauga?s grocers should stop selling Cericola?s goods until this issue has been cleared? Or are you of another frame of mind and think that there?s no harm in still selling Cericola?s products until we see what will become of the charges?
Suspect any sort of fraud? You can find out the truth by availing of our private investigation services! Contact us and let us know what?s bothering you. Your initial consultation is absolutely obligation free!
