Sticky situation: U.S. tariffs could make maple syrup a ‘prime target’ for fraud, Guelph researcher warns [Video]

Maple syrup has become “an ideal and prime target” for fraud and is at risk due to U.S. tariffs, a researcher in the University of Guelph’s department of food science has warned.

Maple syrup fraud refers to the deliberate misrepresentation of the product for economic gains — consumers paying more for a lower value product.

Maleeka Singh said the increased possibility of maple syrup fraud is a direct result of U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and the imposition of a baseline tariff of 10 per cent on all imports that aren’t compliant with the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement.

Singh, maple syrup is often adulterated by the diluting or mixing or completely replacing it with a lower value syrup, like corn syrup. 

“On the labels for example, it might say pure maple syrup, but might actually be a blend of syrups or not even maple syrup at all. Other ways can …