Another Loblaw store fined $10K for promoting imported food as Canadian. Sobeys could be next

A year after the “Buy Canadian” movement started sweeping the country, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is cracking down on grocery stores that promote imported food as Canadian.

So far this year, the federal food regulator has issued two fines to Loblaw-owned grocery stores for this type of violation. The CFIA is also investigating Canadian labelling and advertising practices at grocer Sobeys’ head office, CBC News has learned. 

“Canadians have been clear that they want to support Canadian businesses and buy Canadian products,” said the agency in an email. “The CFIA will take the appropriate action to protect Canadians from misleading claims.”

Since the Buy Canadian movement ignited in February 2025 in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war, many grocers have taken full advantage by using patriotic symbols and signage to spotlight domestic products. 

Back in September, CBC News reported that the CFIA had identified 27 violations in 2025 where grocers, mostly national chains, made erroneous country-of-origin claims. Even so, the agency hadn’t issued any fines — which didn’t sit well with shoppers. 

But now, the CFIA’s approach to enforcement has changed. 

The agency told CBC it has hit a Loblaw-owned Fortinos in Toronto with a $10,000 fine for misrepresenting a foreign-made food.

The CFIA says the Fortinos, located on Queens Plate Drive in Toronto, displayed Président-brand Rondelé specialty cheese spread with an 11-point maple leaf symbol on the shelf tag. However, the cheese is made in France.

“The product display created an impression that the product was made in Canada,” said the CFIA. 

Federal regulations state that food labels and in-store signage must be accurate and not misleading. 

Last month, CBC News reported that the CFIA also issued a $10,000 fine to Loblaw-owned Superstore in Toronto. It had displayed American-made President's Choice broccoli slaw with "maple leaf advertising decals" and a "product of Canada" statement on an in-store shelf tag.

According to the CFIA, a food is a product of Canada if it was entirely or almost entirely created in the country. 

Both incidents were discovered last October and the CFIA issued the penalties to the stores in January. 

The CFIA said that, in total, between Nov. 1, 2024, and Feb. 25, 2026, it identified 78 violations related to country-of-origin claims on food labels or in advertisements at retail stores.