Sep 4, 2026
A Gravenhurst, ON, man picked up a package of Kirkland Signature beef short ribs at a Costco in Orillia, confident he was purchasing Canadian. The front of the package read “Kirkland brand cut triple AAA Canada beef.” Only after getting home did Randy Thompson flip the package over and find a second sticker that told a different story: “Cut from USDA Choice beef” and “Product of USA, processed in Canada”.
For Canadians trying to support local producers — especially with cross-border trade tensions pushing more shoppers to buy Canadian — a mismatch like this is more than an inconvenience. It’s a reminder that a front-of-package claim isn’t always the full story, and that reading past the sticker can be the difference between getting what you paid for and not.
Advertisement
Here’s what happened, why it can even occur at a store known for consistent supply chains and how Canadians can double-check origin claims before they hit the checkout line.
Thanks for subscribing!
The best of Money.ca delivered weekly.
By signing up, you accept Money.ca Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.
What happened, and why it’s not as simple as a sticker
When Thompson returned to the store to inquire about the conflicting labels, staff could not provide an immediate explanation. A follow-up visit by CTV News reporters to another regional Costco location showed identical short rib packages correctly labeled, with Canadian-origin and American-origin cuts displayed side-by-side in the meat counter.
Because large grocers frequently source meat from multiple domestic and international suppliers, side-by-side stocking is standard practice. However, this environment also means labelling errors — such as accidentally placing a Canadian sticker on an imported cut — can occur on the shop floor.
Must Read
- Are you paying too much for car insurance? Here are 3 clever ways to slash your monthly bill
- Here are 5 'must-haves' that Canadians constantly overpay for. How many of these are sabotaging your budget every single month?
- Here are the 5 biggest differences between rich and poor Canadians — which side do you fall on?
Join 19,000+ readers and get Money.ca’s best stories and exclusive interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.
Why a ‘Canadian’ claim on the front doesn’t always mean national origin
Part of the confusion comes from Canada’s own labelling system. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) distinguishes between claims about where an animal was raised and grades that describe quality. “Canadian Beef” refers to origin, while a grade such as “Canada AAA” speaks to attributes like marbling and colour — not where the animal came from. A package can carry a Canada AAA grade stamp while the meat itself was raised and processed elsewhere, which is part of what made Thompson’s package so confusing at first glance.
The CFIA told CTV News that all label information, mandatory or voluntary, “must be accurate, truthful, and not misleading,” and it encourages Canadians to report suspected mislabelling through its food complaint web page.
How to check what you’re actually buying
Before adding a ‘Canadian’ beef, pork or produce item to your cart, a few extra seconds can save a surprise at home:
- Check both sides of the package — a front-facing origin claim should be confirmed by the wording on the back, not just a sticker
- Look for the specific phrase ‘Product of Canada’ or ‘Canadian Beef,’ rather than assuming a grade stamp like Canada AAA confirms origin
- Compare identical products on the shelf — if two packages of the same cut carry different origin claims, that’s worth taking a closer look before you buy
- Ask a staff member if a label looks inconsistent, and keep your receipt in case the answer changes once you get home
Sylvain Charlebois, a professor and food researcher at Dalhousie University, said retailers are under pressure to visibly promote Canadian products right now. “There is clearly an effort to showcase Canadian products, including at the meat counter,” he told CTV News. He added that with trade tensions running high, shoppers want clarity — not confusion — about where their groceries come from.
What to do if a label looks wrong
If a package’s claims don’t match, Canadians can bring it back to the store for a refund and report the concern to the CFIA directly through its food complaint web page. A photo of both sides of the package can help make the case — Thompson’s own experience showed that in-store staff may not have an immediate answer.
The bottom line
Buying Canadian is a values-based decision for a growing number of shoppers, and that decision only works if labels can be trusted. Until every retailer tightens quality control at the point of packaging, the safest move is to treat a front-of-package claim as a starting point, not a guarantee — check the back, compare shelf-mates and report what doesn’t add up.
You May Also Like
- This 7-step plan from Dave Ramsey is designed to help you ditch debt, save more and build wealth — here’s how it works
- Prioritize these 4 critical investments and watch your net worth skyrocket
- Here are 8 solid money moves that could free up real cash every month — here's where to start
- Millionaires under 43 are reshaping investing — just 25% of their portfolios are in stocks. Here’s where their money is going
The most expensive financial mistakes are often the ones you don't see coming. Join 19,000+ Canadians who get the money moves, risks and opportunities shaping their finances — delivered free each week. Subscribe now.
Amy Tokic is an SEO content editor for Money.ca. She holds a B.A. in Communications from the University of Windsor. Amy is an award-winning author and has been writing professionally for 15 years, publishing articles in the lifestyle and health sectors.
