Some Metro Vancouver shoppers say it’s become harder to tell where their fruits and vegetables come from. CTV News visited multiple Loblaw-owned stores and found many items did not have the information displayed on produce signs. Instead, shoppers had to rely on the small stickers attached to individual items. In a statement, Loblaw confirmed it has changed how it displays information in its produce aisles. “Because produce sourcing can change frequently due to seasonality, supplier changes and availability, we now direct customers to the most current supplier-provided country-of-origin information available on product labels, stickers, packaging or accompanying case labels,” the company said. Loblaw said the change is intended to provide customers with the most accurate information available and added it remains committed to Canadian growers and suppliers. The company adds that signage in other aisles has remained unchanged. The issue comes as some Canadians pay closer attention to where products are sourced amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States. “It’s important to me now because of all the tariffs (U.S. President Donald Trump) plans to put on us,” one shopper told CTV News. “I personally don’t know why they’d do that, because it could cause people to not want to shop there,” said another shopper. Dalhousie University Prof. Sylvain Charlebois believes support for Canadian products could continue to grow—particularly if theU.S. president makes good on his most recent tariff threats. “In my view, that would give consumers a cause and a strong reason to support Canadian companies as of tomorrow, even more so than ever before,” he said. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency told CTV News there is no federal requirement for retailers to identify a product’s country of origin on shelf tags, price signs or other retail signage. The agency noted that food labels and advertisements, including in-store signage, must still be accurate, truthful and not misleading. CTV News reached out to the B.C. Agricultural Council for comment but did not receive a response before deadline.
