We are becoming increasingly concerned at what we buy and what we eat and where its origins are. Your story tonight confirmed some of my worst fears. Time for some legislative changes on labeling, maybe, or time for more detail on labels ? I have a right to know what I'm eating surely? Why are suppliers reluctant to put Country of origin on the box? Posted by: H. Mcguire | Oct 24, 07 08:08 PM

I am utterly disgusted that our government allows this, considering that their main job is to protect the Canadian people. Companies like High Liner are looking for a lawsuit. China doesn't care if they poison Canadian products. Look at the fiasco with the pet foods, or the toothpaste contamination. Also, we as CANADIANS should have every right to know where our products are coming from and as far as I am concerned the companies that were interviewed reminded me of how the cigarette companies responded to accusations about cancer, and we all know that cigarette agents cause cancer. Posted by: Kristen Kloosterhuis | Oct 24, 07 08:09 PM

This really shows how our government really doesn't care about as as Canadians, and how much they look after the big companies. To hell with us voters, keep us in the dark and feed us sh--! and we'll go away. We won`t go away! Posted by: Glenn | Oct 24, 07 09:19 PM

I missed the first part of your program and normally will never give an e-mail address, but I was so incensed by what I saw on your program tonight I had to comment. Thank you so much for revealing the "made in Canada" label. Fraud of course it is. Why does our Government allow this? Count me in if you need a petition. I am disgusted that people are feeding this (fish ?) to their families. No wonder cancer is rampant. I keep trying to tell my family not to buy this junk but they still do "for convenience and speed" they say. How can we wake up our government? Posted by: Billie Cunningham | Oct 24, 07 11:17 PM

In reply to other comments and the airing of "Product of Canada" - It's not so much the government, as it is corporations. They have a commercial hold on the North American food industries, especially with new legislation of the past 15 years. What is most alarming about food from 25000 km away, is that if faced with an emergency of any kind that might cut off transportation, we Canadians could starve. With urban sprawl replacing farmland, and companies shipping foods for a better bottom line, we are lining ourselves up for some tough devastation as we approach an era of energy crisis. Remember, we are eating more products that are "designed" to be marketed; sprayed to look pretty, and GM'd to weigh more and grow anywhere. Foods are renamed to make them seem more appealing, toxic pesticides and genetically modified seeds and plants are used to maintain financial feasibility. It seems that business is placing profits in front of people again… Indonesian fish? I taste mercury! We should re-evaluate our food strategies and agreements. The majority of people don't even know the implications! Officials "declining" interviews… That reeks of insidiousness. Posted by: Günther Ohm | Oct 24, 07 11:45 PM

how ironic that marketplace focuses on garlic after I pointedly purchased a jar of minced garlic because it was labeled 'made in Canada'. i was unable to purchase any fresh 'product of Canada' garlic in the local gocery stores. The 'fresh' came from China or Ecuador. Posted by: sj miller | Oct 25, 07 04:31 AM

DISGUSTING....We need to hold our Government accountable. Are they not suppose to protect the people? Profits before People - how Government like. A Canadian product, to me, means home grown - not from China! Posted by: Penny | Oct 25, 07 07:06 AM

Over the past few years I have tried harder and harder to shop for local foods or at least Canadian foods. After your program last night I feel as if I have been duped by the food industry, particularly by the likes of Loblaws and A&P where I do most of my shopping in the "off season." My general rule of thumb has been to buy local first followed by Ontario, Canada and then the U.S. Now I'm wondering about the "Product of U.S.A." labels! What about other "western" countries? Posted by: K. Schroeder | Oct 25, 07 07:29 AM

Thanks for bringing the "Product of Canada" labeling scam to our attention. It is just the tip of the iceberg regarding what's really in our food chain. As another poster said, the names of products are being changed to hide the fact that they include genetically modified ingredients. In fact, the sad truth is that 70% of the food in our supermarkets contains generically modified(GM) products and Canadians are totally oblivious to what they are eating. This has all been done behind our backs and it does not have to be put on the label. There is a list on-line containing all the GM foods at www.gmoguide.greenpeace.ca. We should be horrified and demanding our labeling laws change to include all ingredients and that we go back to farming as God intended it without growth hormones, GMO seeds and pesticides. I for one am now eating mostly organic food and will be backing the Green Party as they are the only ones who have a plan to turn things around. Posted by: J. Kennedy | Oct 25, 07 09:07 AM

Having just returned from New Zealand, and been impressed by the rigorous state of their dairy industry, I was jubilant for their success, and wondered why our daily industry couldn't emulate them. Imagine my surprise! Profits above all, eh? Posted by: Bonnie Sheppard | Oct 25, 07 09:33 AM

I just couldn't believe my eyes when you showed what "Product of Canada" meant, obviously nothing. I realize that we must import from other countries, such as the USA , but to import from countries, where they don't have the regulated standards that the US or Canada must adhere to is outrageous. Don't we have any control over these manufacturing companies with selling such food to us? The laws needs to be changed so that the 51% doesn't include advertising, production or marketing. And the labels on all products should have full disclosure of where a product is from and what's in it. Some of these other countries don't have the same standards for production. Posted by: S.Park | Oct 25, 07 01:56 PM

I am disgusted at the deception uncovered by your report. There is little doubt that corporations are marketing to our concern for local product through the government regulations. If the government was acting on behalf of the consumer rather than the corporations the "Product of Canada" label would relate to the country of origin of ingredients not to the country of production as it now. I will certainly be more diligent in the future to be assured of my money supporting the Canadian farmer. Having recently made a purchase of Five Roses Flour over Duncan Hines Flour because I "thought" I was supporting Canadian ingredients your report made me call to confirm and as of yet I have had no reply. I will continue to investigate. Posted by: Tricia Bird | Oct 26, 07 08:15 AM

I was completely shocked that "Made in Canada" didn't actually mean "Made in Canada". The people of this country have been lied to with this scheme of labeling. As an octo-lavo vegetarian that eats fish for protein, in particular Salmon, I purchased what I thought was Canadian Wild Pacific Salmon from Highliner on a frequent basis. If I had known that I was buying Salmon from Russia, processed in China & then sent here to be "transformed in Canada" I wouldn't have bought it. Goodbye High Liner. Goodbye Made in Canada products, you lost our trust. It may be harder to find REAL Canadian product but we will. Posted by: Scott Cuthbertson | Oct 26, 07 11:24 AM

Excellent program. Now, when are you going to go after Health Canada? If you think the food content regulation is a joke, wait until you start with the regulatory agency for the drugs and devices we take to keep and make us healthy. They are owned lock stock and barrel by the pharmaceutical companies. We're just fodder for pharma stockholders. If millions are harmed and thousand die they'll find anything and anyone else to be responsible. Likely. You. Don't believe me? Baycol, Lipitor, Vioxx, Prepulsid etc. Posted by: Kech | Oct 26, 07 08:02 PM

I would say "assembled in Canada" is a more accurate label for these food items. Posted by: karyn pifiefer | Oct 27, 07 02:12 PM

The public has a right to know certain truths and where are food comes from is one of them. Posted by: Mat Chambers | Oct 28, 07 12:45 PM

Actions do speak louder than words. As a garlic grower in southern Alberta, I take pride in providing my customers with the hands on details of planting,weeding & harvesting farm fresh garlic! Posted by: Cindy/CVC Farms/Pincher Creek, AB. | Oct 28, 07 02:16 PM

I am so glad that so many people feel the same disgust about this "Made in Canada" sham. I hope that everyone who feels this way will also take the time to make it known to the government - through their local MP or however else. Posted by: Shannon | Oct 28, 07 02:18 PM

I too was furious to have been taken by the deceptive labels allowed by Government! I purposely bought High Liner thinking that their Pacific salmon was caught by BC fisherman. Was I duped! Thanks for letting us know that this misleading "Made in Canada" product was caught in Russia, processed in China, packaged at High Liner and travelled 25,000 kilometres! Posted by: Lydia Ducharme | Oct 28, 07 03:23 PM

Some of the reason you don't see local products on store shelves is that if you can't supply 12 months out of the year they don't your product. The "Product of Canada" is a loophole that the companies use. Close it. Product of Canada should not be on the label if it is not a "Product of Canada'' if not produced in Canada!! If the companies would buy local to fill part of their year then both would benefit, and also pay a decent price for it. Labeling is another sore-spot with me. When you put a label on a package, it has to be just right. You have to be a lawyer to figure the laws. I have been a beekeeper for 38 years. All of our honey is sold locally. I supply one health food store, because some of their customers wanted "locally produced honey.'' Posted by: Ivan McGill | Oct 28, 07 11:45 PM

I too felt betrayed when I found out that the "Made in Canada" label that I look for in grocery stores, and am willing to pay extra for, means absolutely nothing. I think consumers should boycott the High Liners and Canada Garlics and however many other processors there are that stick the "Made in Canada" label on their import products. The other things we should do is let the companies know we are doing it, start asking the grocery retailers the tough questions and yes, let our MP's know we want the regulation changed. I want labels to spell out, for example, salmon from Russia, processed in China, packaged and processed in Canada. Let's demand truth in labeling. Posted by: Ted Harms | Oct 29, 07 01:39 PM

This has been bugging me for some time now and I was glad to see that I am not the only one concerned about it. Another thing that bothers me on packaging is the note, " packaged for X company by so & so Foods and their location" No mention of where the ingredients come from. Posted by: Bob Adams | Oct 30, 07 09:39 AM

I don't understand how HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) program required for all Canadian food processors ties in with the import of foods from countries whose health & safety processes seem to be so lacking! The following CFIA link seems to refer to hazards at the supplier level - how can a product be approved for sale in Canada without stringent controls at the supplier level?) http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/polstrat/haccp/cstorfentr/cstorfentr9e.shtml While I realize that your primary focus was on Canadian content requirements which result in misleading labeling, the food safety is a major concern. Posted by: Diane Lawrence | Oct 31, 07 08:30 PM

Thank You for uncovering this BIG LIE!! The biggest thing consumers can do is stop supporting any company doing this (USING PRODUCT OF/MADE IN CANADA LABEL), and also to contact their MPs to let them know this cannot be. I used to buy High Liner fish sticks for my children once in awhile. No more! Support your local farmers and fishermen as much as possible. Posted by: Brian O'Connell | Nov 1, 07 09:59 PM

I suppose the Harper gov't would be happy if we all wandered around with 'Saipan Makes Me Jealous' stamps on our foreheads. These days, I look into the eyes of Stephen Harper & all I see is a smarter version of George Bush... If they could have us all swimming in sludge for their profit, they'd be oh-so happy. If you haven't noticed? Harper's gov't doesn't give a DAMN about Canadians... merely corporate profit. Don't believe me? Gee, take a look at the demographics for yesterday's TAX reductions. Posted by: BlueBerry Pick'n | Nov 9, 07 09:18 AM

I am disgusted that companies to sell their products are lying to consumers. If a product is a Canadian product, that means that the product and everything about it is Canadian. Obviously this is incorrect. Posted by: Dean | Dec 16, 07 12:45 PM

I am a food importer and distributor in Western Canada, and could not agree more fully with the expose your people did on the show "product of Canada, eh?" I am disgusted with the federal government allowing the "big boys" to hide behind regulations that intend to mislead the Canadian consumer. Sign me up for your petition. As an aside, as an importer, I have an option to place on the label "country of origin" or "imported by" followed by the importing company's name and address. As a result of watching your show, henceforth I shall insist on all labels being labelled with the country of origin. After all, if we're dealing with reputable suppliers and have nothing to hide, such information, I believe, would be an be an asset, rather then a detriment. Posted by: Wojciech Latek | Dec 27, 07 08:56 PM

I was so angry after that program that I couldn't write. g. I agree with the above comments. Now, I do need to ask, how many are willing to pay the price for Canadian food? You can blame the government, The Health Department or CFIA. Blame who you want, the fact is Canadians want cheap food - enter - money hungry corporations and their ability to get cheaper food. We have learned what happened to our ice cream when the word cream isn't on the label, wait until you read, Cheddar and the word cheese is missing. It is cheaper to substitute by-products. Many of today's farmers are highly educated with either a university degree or college diploma and are highly skilled and trained and yet they are at the bottom of of the totem pole because Canadians believe that food should be cheap. Wake up Canada, it's only going to get worse unless you support Canadian farmers. It's sad that Canada needs food banks, just imagine, if farmers started lining up for food? Posted by: Heidy Schmidt | Jan 24, 08 11:30 PM

The solution is to BUY LOCAL food. Support our Canadian Farmers! Canadian Farmers grow and raise top quality and excellent food. It is possible to eat well in Canada, in all seasons. Learn how! Posted by: Mary Templeton | Feb 10, 08 10:27 AM

I think I am with most of these comments. I welcome a globalized village, but we need to make informed decisions. The general public are intelligent people and we like to make decisions that affect ourself, family, community and the broadest sense our global village! Posted by: Connie | Feb 19, 08 07:44 PM