This was a display at a local Foodbasics. Andy brand lettuce… product of the USA, and the shelves were empty, so people were buying it.
And why not? Because they see the “shop local, support local” with a maple leaf, and assume that the store has made it easier for them to shop Canadian.
ALWAYS check labels for a country of origin. PRODUCT of the USA is by far the one you need to avoid “at all cost” with MADE in the USA second.
Even American items on sale are not worth buying, because every dollar you send to the States, is a dollar they will use to kill Canada with.
I’m finding maple leaf stickers on all kinds of products that are always in the same spot, so this issue extends to more than just the bins.
There’s no consistency, either. One item might have the maple leaf because it’s a product of Canada, while another might not have any country of origin and only say that it’s imported by the brand (with a Canadian office), and others will list a country of origin that is NOT Canada, but still have the maple leaf.
It’s frustrating if you just want a quick assurance that you are supporting Canadians, but can’t trust how the store tags them. I was searching for popcorn kernels when this all started, and the store had a maple leaf, but no country of origin. I spoke with staff, who said that it was a product of Canada. I called their head office to confirm, and they said the kernels were from the States. Pissed me off, but I learned my lesson.