On January 15, 2019, new food safety regulations are coming into effect in Canada. The legislation will affect food suppliers, importers and exporters. Also, every food business will be required to keep records of who they bought from, when, and who they sold it to. The exception are retailers, which won’t need to keep records of consumers.
It is estimated more than $40 billion are put back into food scammers hands than real producer’s pockets.
Seafood mislabeling is a big concerning issue. Julia Levin, Seafood Fraud Campaigner at Oceana Canada mentions a type of fish we usually consume without knowledge and it can be a serious danger to our stomachs.
“We often see it on menus as butterfish or white tuna. Escolar also goes by the name of the ‘laxative of the sea’ because it impacts our gastrointestinal system. Three countries – Japan, South Korea, and Italy – have banned it from being sold and in Canada we are still consuming it without not knowing.”
Escolar or ‘laxative of the sea’
Escolar is problematic. It is safe to eat in small quantities and once in a while, but the frequent consumption and large quantities can lead to gastric distress, such as stomach cramps and diarrhea. This is caused by the high wax and fat content of the fish.
Oceana Canada conducted a year and half investigation across the country, including 5 specific cities: Victoria, Vancouver, Ottawa, Halifax and Toronto.
“We found an alarming 44% of 400 samples were mislabeled. The name of the fishes on the package did not correspond to the species compared to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency fish list and how they are supposed to be labelled.”
She adds there is over 900 hundred species of fish that can be sold in Canada and it is impossible for consumers to independently ascertain what they are eating.
Seafood fraud only hurts consumer’s wallets, health and oceans. That’s why full chain traceability is needed. In the United Stated and Europe has already been implemented, but Canada still lacks mayor trading. It is important to recognize that as block chain comes, that means a high cost for suppliers and consumers will have to pay more.
Sausage mislabeling still is an issue in Canada
Besides fish, meat is another vulnerable product of fraud. In 2017, the University of Guelph conducted the first-ever Canadian study of sausage mislabeling from grocery stores across the country. The study revealed most mislabeling involves meat substitution.
“If you see on the label 60% of meat. What that tells you is that the meat or chicken has been injected. The purposes of the injected solution can be increase the weight, or to maintain a certain look or texture. Therefore, more money,” says Chef and Coordinator Patrick Hersey of the Culinary Program at Fanshawe College.
Add dairy to the existing list of food fraud
Another item of fraud is dairy. Chef Hersey mentions a specific word we must be aware of when buying food items.
“It can say ‘sour cream’ or ‘sour cream product’. Sour cream product is usually lower in fat, so they will have to add gelatin to make it thicker. Now, because something else was added, they can no longer call it sour cream, instead add the word product. Same with frozen desserts and other items.”
Buying from local markets instead of big supply chains and getting to know where the food comes from will play an essential role to stop food fraud.
Consumers can contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency or the Middlesex London Health unit to report foods they believe are not safe to eat.
