Charlebois: Canada’s meat scales are off — and so is oversight

Once again, it took the media to remind us that food fraud is not a relic of the past — it is very much a present-day risk embedded in our food system.

After the maple syrup scandal, CBC News has uncovered yet another troubling issue: inaccurate scales at the meat counter.

This is not anecdotal noise. It is a structural concern. When consumers pay for more than they actually receive, it erodes trust in one of the most expensive categories in the grocery store.

The discrepancies identified suggest overcharges ranging between four per cent and 11 per cent on affected packages. If this were systemic — which it likely is not — the exposure would be staggering. But even under conservative assumptions, where 10 per cent to 25 per cent of transactions are impacted, the national cost still ranges from roughly $200 million to $1.4 billion annually.

Where are the inspectors? Where are the regulators? Canada does not lack oversight bodies. Measurement Canada is mandated to ensure accuracy in trade measurement, while the Canadian Food Inspection Agency plays a broader role in food integrity and compliance.

Yet, when it takes investigative journalism to uncover issues of this magnitude, we have to question whether the system is adequately resourced, sufficiently proactive, or simply too reactive.

This concern is amplified by recent signals that the federal government is cutting inspector positions within the CFIA.  Fewer inspectors could mean fewer audits, slower response times and, ultimately, weaker surveillance across the food system.

Whether these inaccuracies stem from malfunctioning equipment, inadequate calibration or poor staff training is almost secondary. The outcome is the same — consumers are paying more than they should, and confidence in the system is weakened.

Some grocers have issued apologies, but apologies alone are insufficient. This is not about intent; it is about accountability.

Consumers are not powerless. A simple kitchen scale — costing less than $20 — can act as a first line of verification. If discrepancies are found, they should be documented and brought to store management. Under the Scanner Price Accuracy Code, consumers may be entitled to compensation.

Reporting issues to regulators is also essential, even if enforcement can be slow. Increasingly, however, consumers are turning to public platforms — because reputational damage often travels faster than regulatory action.

Ultimately, grocers must recognize that having a “thumb on the scale,” whether intentional or not, is indefensible. But regulators must also accept their share of responsibility. Oversight cannot rely on whistleblowers and journalists to function effectively.

Precision in measurement is not optional in food retail — it is foundational. And right now, Canadians have every reason to wonder whether the system designed to protect them is weighing in at all.

Sylvain Charlebois is director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University, co-host of The Food Professor Podcast and visiting scholar at McGill University

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