Érablière Steve Bourdeau Fake Maple Syrup Class Action, Did You Buy Bourdeau’s Syrup at Metro, IGA, or Farm Boy?

A class action lawsuit filed in Quebec Superior Court in April 2026 claims that maple syrup producer Érablière Steve Bourdeau sold cans labelled “pure maple syrup” that actually contained more than 50 percent cane sugar. The lawsuit covers anyone in Canada who purchased Bourdeau’s syrup on or after April 7, 2023, and seeks $100 in punitive damages per buyer. The lawsuit has not been authorized by the court yet, and no claim form is open. Here is exactly what happened, who qualifies, and what to do right now.

Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Defendant	9227-8712 Québec inc. (operating as Érablière Steve Bourdeau / Le Sirop Angela)
Court	Quebec Superior Court
Settlement Amount	TBD — Lawsuit not yet authorized
Claim Deadline	TBD — No claim form open yet
Who Qualifies	Anyone in Canada who purchased Bourdeau’s maple syrup on or after April 7, 2023
Payout Per Person	$100 in punitive damages sought (plus compensatory damages — TBD)
Proof Required	TBD
Status	Filed — awaiting court authorization
Law Firm	Slater Vecchio (Vancouver)
Official Class Action Page	slatervecchio.com/class-action/fake-maple-syrup-class-action

Where Things Stand Right Now

• The lawsuit was filed in Quebec Superior Court on April 8, 2026, and has not yet been authorized — meaning a judge still needs to certify it as a class action before it can proceed.
• No claim form exists yet. Eligible Canadians do not need to take any action until authorization is granted.
• Several major grocery chains — including Metro, IGA, and Farm Boy — have already pulled Bourdeau’s products from shelves and are offering refunds on unopened cans.

What the Fake Maple Syrup Lawsuit Is Actually About

Radio-Canada’s investigative program Enquête launched its investigation after one of its journalists noticed that maple syrup purchased at the grocery store tasted strange. Lab tests later confirmed the product contained foreign sugar.

Enquête purchased five cans of Bourdeau’s syrup from different stores and had them tested at the provincial laboratory responsible for quality control of maple syrup in Quebec. All five cans, each labelled “pure maple syrup,” contained at least 50 percent cane sugar. The Quebec testing lab called it a first — this type of falsification had never been seen before.

When confronted with the results, Bourdeau at first called them “impossible,” then shifted blame to his out-of-province suppliers. He had previously admitted on hidden camera that he purchased most of his syrup in bulk from suppliers in New Brunswick and Ontario and then canned it himself.

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The class action lawsuit alleges that Érablière Steve Bourdeau violated Canada’s Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits sellers from misrepresenting the composition or origin of their products. The complaint also alleges violations of Quebec’s Consumer Code and Civil Code, and states that the company acted with gross negligence or deliberate indifference toward consumer rights.

Making matters worse, consumers later found cans on store shelves with a sticker reading “le sirop Angela” that, when peeled back, concealed the name of Bourdeau’s company underneath. Bourdeau has not responded to requests for comment about those labels.

Who Is Eligible to File a Claim?

You may qualify if:

• You purchased maple syrup sold, made, or prepared by Érablière Steve Bourdeau (company number 9227-8712 Québec inc.) at any point on or after April 7, 2023
• You purchased the syrup in Canada — including Quebec or Ontario (where the product appeared at Metro, IGA, and Farm Boy locations)
• The can was labelled “pure maple syrup” or “Product of Quebec” at the time of purchase
• You purchased a can that may have been labelled “le sirop Angela” — check whether your can has a sticker covering Bourdeau’s company name underneath
• You may have purchased the syrup without knowing it was adulterated — no knowledge of the defect is required to qualify

Last year alone, Bourdeau’s company sold hundreds of thousands of cans. The number of potential class members is unknown but could reach into the hundreds of thousands, or even millions.

How Much Could You Receive?

The lawsuit seeks $100 per class member in punitive damages, plus compensatory damages and additional compensation on behalf of all class members. The exact compensatory amount — which would reflect what buyers actually paid for a product that was not what it claimed to be — is TBD and will be determined if and when a settlement is negotiated or the court awards damages.

Lawyer Saro Turner, who is representing the class, told CBC that he intends to seek both compensatory damages for consumers who purchased Bourdeau’s syrup and punitive damages to deter others from attempting the same conduct.

All payout figures beyond the $100 punitive damages claim are TBD. Final amounts depend on court authorization and any eventual settlement or judgment.

What Canadian Syrup Buyers Should Do Right Now

No claim form exists, so you cannot submit a claim today. But the steps below protect your ability to participate if the class action is authorized.

Step 1 — Check your cans at home. Look for Bourdeau’s company name, “9227-8712 Québec inc.,” or “Érablière Steve Bourdeau” on the label. Also check for a “le sirop Angela” sticker that may be covering his company’s name underneath.

Step 2 — Don’t throw anything away. Keep unopened cans and any receipts you have. Physical evidence and proof of purchase will likely be relevant once a claim process opens.

Step 3 — Return unopened cans to the store. Metro, IGA, and Farm Boy are currently accepting returns of Bourdeau’s syrup and issuing refunds. Taking a store refund does not necessarily waive your right to participate in the class action — but confirm this with the law firm if you’re unsure.

Step 4 — Register your interest with Slater Vecchio. Visit the law firm’s official class action page at slatervecchio.com to submit your contact information so you receive updates when the lawsuit is authorized and a claim process opens.

Step 5 — File a complaint with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Report food mislabelling at inspection.gc.ca. Your complaint adds to the official federal record and can support the broader case.

Step 6 — Monitor the case for authorization. Once Quebec Superior Court authorizes the class action, class members will receive notice about how to file a claim. No further action is required before that point.

Estimated time to complete Steps 1–5: 15–20 minutes.

Key Dates

Milestone	Date
Radio-Canada Enquête investigation aired	April 2, 2026
Class Action Filed in Quebec Superior Court	April 8, 2026
Court Authorization Hearing	TBD
Claim Period Opens	TBD
Claim Filing Deadline	TBD
Expected Payment Date	TBD

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a lawyer to file a claim?

 No. Once the court authorizes the class action and a claim form opens, you can file on your own at no cost. The law firm Slater Vecchio represents all class members and collects legal fees from any settlement or court award — not from individual claimants.

Is this lawsuit legitimate? 

Yes. Vancouver law firm Slater Vecchio filed the lawsuit in Quebec Superior Court on April 8, 2026, on behalf of named plaintiff Maude Fraser-Jodoin. The allegations are backed by laboratory testing conducted by Quebec’s provincial maple syrup quality control centre, which confirmed all five tested cans contained at least 50 percent cane sugar.

When will I receive a payment? 

No payment timeline exists yet. The lawsuit must first receive court authorization in Quebec, and then either settle or proceed to a damages hearing. Class actions of this nature typically take one to three years to reach the payment stage, though some resolve faster when defendants choose not to contest.

What if I already returned my cans to the grocery store for a refund?

 Several stores are offering refunds on unopened cans right now. Taking a store refund may or may not affect your eligibility to participate in the class action — contact Slater Vecchio directly at their official class action page to clarify your situation before making that decision.

Will a class action payment affect my taxes in Canada? 

Punitive damages awarded by Canadian courts are generally considered taxable income. Compensatory damages — meaning money that reimburses what you actually paid — are often not taxable. Consult a Canadian tax professional once final payment amounts are confirmed.

I bought this syrup in Ontario at Farm Boy — can I still join the Quebec class action?

 It is not just Quebec consumers who are affected. Radio-Canada received emails from people in Ontario who purchased Bourdeau’s syrup at Farm Boy grocery stores. The lawsuit seeks to cover all Canadian purchasers — regardless of province — but court authorization will ultimately define the geographic scope of the class. Monitor the Slater Vecchio website for updates.

What laws did Bourdeau allegedly break? 

The lawsuit alleges violations of the Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits sellers from misrepresenting the composition or origin of products, as well as Quebec’s Consumer Code and Civil Code. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry are also investigating separately from the civil lawsuit.

Has anyone from the government responded? 

Quebec Agriculture Minister Donald Martel called fake maple syrup on grocery store shelves unacceptable, telling Radio-Canada: “Maple products are kind of part of our heritage. Anyone who wants to mess with that, well, I don’t have much respect for them.” Martel confirmed various investigations were underway. The Quebec Federation of Maple Syrup Producers filed formal complaints with both the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Quebec’s Agriculture Ministry.

Sources & References

• Official class action page — Slater Vecchio: slatervecchio.com/class-action/fake-maple-syrup-class-action

Last Updated: April 12, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.