Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz is defending new stiffer requirements for Product of Canada labels brought in by the federal government this year.

As of Jan. 1, food processors can only use a Product of Canada label if the product contains 98 per cent domestic ingredients. Opposition parties have picked up the cause of food processors, including one in P.E.I., who are complaining the bar has been set too high.

"When Canadians find foods with Product of Canada labels in the grocery store, they don't expect foreign ingredients to be hidden inside," Ritz said in an email to CBC News Friday.

The changes were made after complaints that the rules were too lax. Under the previous rules, a tin of mandarin oranges grown in China but packaged in Canada could be labeled Product of Canada.

"Canadians have spoken, and we listened; Canadians want more truthful labels, not confusing rules," Ritz said.

The change went well beyond what was recommended by a parliamentary committee, which said 85 per cent domestic content should be enough to earn a Product of Canada label. That suggestion was to accommodate food processors using a small proportion of ingredients not easily come by in Canada, such as sugar and spices.