An Ontario poultry farm is in court over organic mislabelling allegations
By Jennifer Jackson
A Bradford chicken farmer was represented in a Barrie courtroom Oct. 24, for charges of mislabelling conventional chicken as “certified organic.”
An investigation led by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) resulted in eight charges against both Anthony and Amedeo Cericola, senior officials for Cericola Farms Inc. Charges included varying violations under the Food and Drugs Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labeling Act, and the Organic Products Regulation.
Cericola Farms Inc. markets itself as one of the countries most notable organic poultry operations. The company is “one of the first (farms) to grow and sell organic and antibiotic-free chicken to a major national retailer,” according to its website.
Large grocers, including Sobeys, Loblaws, and Costco, carried Cericola Farms Inc. chicken; according to the Globe and Mail, it is uncertain whether these grocers will continue to work with Cericola.
We “are committed to full compliance with all Canadian food laws and best practices,” Cericola Farms wrote in a statement to the Globe and Mail. “As such, the charges which have been laid by the CFIA will be vigorously defended.”
This is the second case of high-profile food fraud recently. In July of 2016, Mucci Pac Ltd. was convicted of labeling imported produce as Canadian.
The CFIA has seemingly been prioritizing food labelling concerns, as consumer educate themselves on food sources.
“A question that remains for the sector is whether there is more to come,” said Glenford Jameson, a Toronto food lawyer, to the Globe and Mail. “Are the charges laid against Cericola Farms, which are so similar to those laid against Mucci Farms, simply the result of a well-timed whistle blower, or do they mark a new era of high-impact food fraud investigations and prosecutions by the CFIA?”
Vashti Dalipsingh, former director of operations at the farm, sued Cericola Farms last year for wrongful job termination.
Dalipsingh said she had witnessed fraudulent labeling of chicken in the farm’s crunch to meet shipment deadlines.