In response to increased patriotism and a trade war with the U.S., Canadian grocery stores began marking domestically produced items with a maple leaf symbol to support local shopping.
Starting in February, the U.S. imposed 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, leading Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to retaliate with similar tariffs on U.S. goods.
This trade conflict resulted in Canadians boycotting American products, significantly impacting supermarket stock. Canadian retailers allegedly resorted to “maple washing,” or mislabeling U.S. goods as local to boost sales.
Outrage among consumers has surged, resulting in numerous complaints and social media posts exposing these practices. Major grocery chains have acknowledged labeling errors and have taken steps to correct them.
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