MONTPELIER, Vt. -- In the maple-rich areas of New England and the upper Midwest, producers don't approve of fakers.
Last week, industry groups from Vermont to Michigan sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration protesting food labeled as maple that doesn't contain the real thing.
They say products ranging from oatmeal to ice cream are misbranded in violation of FDA regulations because they don't contain maple syrup, derived from heating sap from maple trees.
They want the FDA to take enforcement action to either remove the maple branding from the products or have the companies add maple syrup to them.
The FDA said it is reviewing the letter and will respond directly to the petitioners.
