CBC Marketplace Interviews Glenford for Investigation into Processed Products

CBC’s Charlsie Agro interviewed Glenford Jameson for a national CBC Marketplace investigation into the regulation of country or origin labeling for apple juice and other processed products.

The show’s argument: Canadian labels can just add water to make a product “Made in Canada” and that such a labeling framework allows for misleading marketing to the average Canadian consumer. You can find the CBC Marketplace episode featuring Glenford’s interview here, and below is a twitter thread addressing the issue:

Canadian labels require more info on certain things than any other jurisdiction in the world, but when it comes to identifying a country of origin, making it Canadian can mean ‘just add water’. Nice work by @CBCharlsie and the @cbcmarketplace #foodlaw https://t.co/8D4W1cvWQC

— Glenford Jameson (@gsjameson) November 9, 2018

I will say, I was heartened to see Dr. Aline Dimitri, @CFIA_Food ED for Food Safety Science speaking to @CBCharlsie on @CBCTheNational. I think she's right: #MCOOL hasn't been a priority for Canadians. However, public trust has to be near the top of CFIA's agenda and MCOOL helps.

— Glenford Jameson (@gsjameson) November 9, 2018

There isn't anything to fear from foreign apple concentrate: the products are subject to the same safety standards and testing. But public trust is eroded when the rules allow something to be called Canadian when, in the minds of most, it's not.

— Glenford Jameson (@gsjameson) November 9, 2018

Some of our trade agreements acknowledge this: I seem to remember NAFTA's rules of origin expressly excluded the addition of water as a way to domesticate products.

— Glenford Jameson (@gsjameson) November 9, 2018

Of course, apple juice isn't the only product to wrap itself in the Canadian flag. Lots of products cross borders before being labeled Canadian. And that's fine, and good. Keeps prices legitimate and our supply chains are built for it.

— Glenford Jameson (@gsjameson) November 9, 2018

The weird thing about apple juice and other processed products is the grading terminology "CANADA CHOICE" and "CANADA FANCY", which denote the Canadian grade of the product and not the grade of the Canadian Product. I think this is not intuitive to consumers.

— Glenford Jameson (@gsjameson) November 9, 2018

To recap: everything is compliant from a regulatory standpoint; this is how regulations have been shaped for decades; no one is at risk; PPR grades are misleading to Canadians, who have diminished trust in their food systems; the @CFIA_Food has a role; and, MCOOL could help.

— Glenford Jameson (@gsjameson) November 9, 2018