Quebecâs maple syrup producers’ federation is alleging in court documents that Steve Bourdeau, the producer linked to the recent fake maple syrup scandal, may be trying to resell bogus syrup thatâs been returned to him by grocery stores.
The Quebec Federation of Maple Syrup Producers, known by its French acronym PPAQ, has filed a formal request with Quebecâs food marketing regulator, the Régie des marchés agricoles et alimentaires du Québec, to launch a full investigation into Bourdeauâs business, shut down his operations, and seize all his syrup.
Radio-Canadaâs Enquête program first broke the story on April 2 that five cans of Bourdeauâs syrup for sale on grocery store shelves in Quebec and Ontario were tested and found to have been cut with more than 50 per cent cane sugar, despite being labelled “pure maple syrup.”
Most grocery stores have since pulled Bourdeauâs products from shelves and offered refunds.
Quebec federation alleges fake maple syrup producer intends to continue selling bogus product
In documents filed with the regulator, the PPAQ says two of its inspectors visited Bourdeauâs sugar bush on April 16.
The PPAQ says inspectors found pallets of cans of syrup that had been returned to Bourdeau from suppliers, and that members of Bourdeauâs staff were transferring the syrup from the cans into large containers.
The inspectors asked Bourdeau what he intended to do with the syrup.
âI’ll find a way to get rid of it,â Bourdeau is quoted as answering, according to the court documents.Â
The PPAQ says Bourdeauâs intentions are clear.
âIt therefore appears that the respondents (Bourdeau and his company) are still active, and that they still intend to sell adulterated maple products, despite the media attention given to their activities and to the detriment of the interests and reputation of all maple producers in Quebec,â the federation said in the court filing.
In its legal filing, the PPAQ calls Bourdeau a “notorious and repeat offender.”
âIn recent years, the respondents have been subject to numerous audits, requests for investigations and transactions in which they have admitted contraventions of the regulations applicable to the maple sector,â the PPAQ said.
The federation said immediately after Enquêteâs initial report was broadcast, it contacted Bourdeau requesting information and documentation about his sales and business practices, and that he never responded.
The federation is asking the province’s food marketing regulator for permission to seize all of Bourdeauâs syrup, to order him to stop producing and marketing syrup, and to collect from him a total of $190,000 in fines and unpaid contributions.
Itâs also asking for a full investigation into Bordeauâs operations for the last three years, in which the regulator could compel Bourdeau to provide required documents and to answer any questions.
Bourdeau hasnât responded yet to the allegations contained in the court documents.
When responding to Enquêteâs initial report on the fake syrup, Bourdeau suggested it might have come from one of his suppliers from out of province.
