Loblaw reverses produce labelling decision after customer backlash, reintroduces tariff symbols
Loblaw has reversed its decision to drop country-of-origin labelling on produce signs following widespread customer backlash. The grocer is also reintroducing a 'T' symbol on shelf labels to indicate American products affected by U.S. tariffs, according to reports from CBC and VOCM.
The reversal comes after shoppers noticed that the area on produce displays indicating where food was grown had been left blank earlier this month. One shopper, Karla Hennig of Penticton, B.C., said she was disappointed when she discovered the missing information last week at her local Superstore. "We should know what we're eating," she said. "I just think it's terribly disrespectful of my time and my money. They want me to support them, but they are not giving me what I've asked for."
Produce signage at Loblaw stores across Canada reflected the same change, except in Ontario and Quebec, where provincial regulations mandate certain types of labelling transparency. In other provinces, many Loblaw shoppers took to social media to denounce the policy change, which the grocer initiated just before Canada-U.S. trade talks collapsed, sparking a fresh trade war and renewed interest in buying Canadian products.
The backlash was anticipated by Ellen Goddard, an agricultural economist at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, who said at the time, "They're probably thinking, 'Boy, we picked the wrong [time] to pull the labelling.'" She predicted that customer pressure might force the grocer to reverse course, noting, "The emotion is much higher now. I suspect they're counting the number of messages and social media blogs they are seeing and phone calls they're getting from customers."
Goddard's prediction turned out to be accurate. Following a CBC News inquiry, Loblaw responded by email that, as Canada enters another period of trade uncertainty with the United States, the grocer is taking steps to help shoppers buy Canadian products. Those efforts include reintroducing country-of-origin information in produce aisles and a 'T' symbol on shelf labels for American products affected by U.S. tariffs.
Separately, VOCM reported that Loblaw had started labelling affected products with a 'T' symbol last year when trade tensions between Canada and the U.S. began to flare. The grocer scaled back usage in recent months, but the logo will soon start appearing on price tags once again. Products with the 'T' symbol will indicate to shoppers that the item has seen a price increase because of tariffs. Loblaw also plans to ramp up its efforts to highlight products made in Canada.