Maple syrup scandal in Quebec

A major news company in Canada found a big problem with maple syrup. An investigation showed that a company in Quebec was mixing real maple syrup with cheap cane sugar. They sold this fake syrup to many supermarkets.

Journalists used secret names and hidden cameras to catch the producer. They bought a cheap brand of syrup and sent it to a laboratory. Experts at the lab found that the syrup was not pure. Luc Lagacé, a scientist at the lab, said the sugar was not a mistake. He said the company wanted to add sugar to save money.

Maple syrup is very important in Quebec. Quebec makes about 75% of the world’s syrup. Last year, farmers there produced about 108 million kilograms of it. 

One barrel of syrup is worth almost 1,000 Canadian dollars, so some people try to steal or cheat. In 2011, thieves even stole $18 million worth of syrup from a warehouse.

The investigation started because a journalist noticed a strange taste in his syrup. The label said it was “pure,” but it was not. 

The syrup producer told secret reporters that his prices were the best because he was clever. He later said he did nothing wrong. He blamed other producers and said he would start his own investigation.

In Quebec, most syrup sold in large amounts is tested. However, syrup that is put into cans by the producers is not checked as often. This makes it easier for fake products to reach stores. Real maple syrup is difficult to make. It takes a lot of sap from trees, which workers boil for a long time. Mixing it with sugar is illegal because it lies to the customers.

Vocabulary

• Major – very important; big; main; large 
• Investigation – a careful study to find the truth; searching for facts; a check to see what happened 🔍
• Show – to make something clear; to let people see; to prove 
• Cane sugar – sweet white powder from a tall plant; common sugar 
• Fake – not real; false; a copy; something made to trick people 
• Supermarket – a large food store; grocery store; a place to buy food 
• Journalist – a person who writes news; a reporter; someone who tells stories for TV or newspapers 
• Secret – something people do not know; hidden; private; not public 🤫
• Hidden – out of sight; difficult to see; kept away from view 
• Catch – to find someone doing something wrong; to grab; to stop 
• Producer – a person or company that makes things; a maker; a creator 
• Brand – the name of a product; a company name or logo 
• Laboratory – a place where scientists work; a room for testing things 
• Lab – a short word for laboratory; a room for science work 
• Find – to discover; to learn something new; to see after looking 🔎
• Pure – clean; not mixed with anything else; 100% one thing 
• Scientist – a person who studies how things work; an expert in science 👨‍🔬
• Mistake – something done wrong; an error; an accident 
• Add – to put more in; to join things together; to increase 
• Save money – to keep money; to spend less; to not waste money 
• Farmer – a person who grows food or keeps animals; a person who works on land 👨‍🌾
• Produce – to make something; to create; to grow 
• Million – 1,000,000 = one million
• Barrel – a large round container for liquids; a big drum 🛢️
• Worth – the price of something; the value; how much money it costs 
• Steal – to take something that is not yours; to rob 🥷
• Cheat – to be dishonest; to trick someone; to not follow the rules 
• Thief – a person who steals; a robber; a person who takes things illegally 
• Warehouse – a very large building to keep goods; a storage building 
• Notice – to see something; to pay attention; to observe 
• Strange – unusual; weird; not normal; surprising 🤨
• Clever – smart; quick to learn; good at thinking 💡
• Blame – to say someone else did the bad thing; to point at someone else 
• Large amount – a lot of something; a big pile; a high number 
• Test – to check something carefully; to look at something to see if it is good 
• Reach – to arrive at; to get to a place; to touch 
• Sap – the water or juice inside a tree; tree liquid 🌳
• Boil – to heat a liquid until it is very hot and has bubbles; to cook in water; when water is 100 degrees Celsius 🌡️
• Illegal – against the law; not allowed by the police; a crime ⚖️

Quiz

Time’s up

Discussion Questions

• Why do you think some people are willing to “cheat” or commit fraud in the food industry?
• Do you think the government should test every single can of syrup, or is that too much work?
• In your country, are there any famous local products (like maple syrup) that people are very proud of?
• How would you feel if you bought a product labeled “100% natural” but found out it was fake?
• Does a lower price on a product make you think it is not real?

• English teachers looking for teaching ideas, check out my post on using easy news articles for lessons.
• English learners looking for study ideas, check out my post on using news stories for English practice.

Original Story

Fill-in-the-Blank Listening Practice

A major _____ company in Canada found a big with _____ syrup. An investigation showed that a company in Quebec was _____ real maple syrup with cheap cane sugar. They sold this fake syrup to _____ supermarkets.

Journalists used secret _____ and hidden cameras to catch the producer. They bought a cheap _____ of syrup and sent it to a laboratory. _____ at the lab found that the syrup was not pure. Luc Lagacé, a _____ at the lab, said the sugar _____ not a mistake. He said the company wanted to add sugar to _____ money.

Maple syrup is very important _____ Quebec. Quebec makes about 75% of the world’s syrup. Last _____, farmers there produced about 108 million _____ of it.

One barrel of syrup is worth almost _____ Canadian dollars, so some people try to steal or cheat. In _____, thieves even stole $18 million _____ of syrup from a warehouse.

The investigation _____ because a journalist noticed a strange taste in his syrup. _____ label said it was “pure,” but it was not.

The syrup _____ told secret reporters that his prices were the best _____ he was clever. He later said he did nothing wrong. He _____ other producers and said he would start his own investigation.

In Quebec, _____ syrup sold in large amounts is tested. However, syrup _____ is put into cans by the producers is not checked as _____. This makes it easier for fake products to reach _____. Real maple syrup is difficult to make. It _____ a lot of sap from trees, which workers boil for a _____ time. Mixing it with sugar is illegal because it _____ to the customers.