Mucci
International Marketing Inc., Mucci Pac Ltd., Danny Mucci
and Joseph Spano have pleaded guilty to eight counts of breaking
federal laws over labelling of greenhouse vegetables and have been
fined $1.5 million.
The
men were also sentenced to a three-year period of probation by an
Ontario Superior Court judge in Windsor.
The
Canadian Food Inspection Agency laid charges in July, 2014,
after an investigation substantiated widespread misrepresentation of
imported greenhouse vegetables as a Product of Canada, packaged by
Mucci PacLtd., and sold by Mucci International Marketing Inc.,
to retail establishments, over a 15-month period.
The
marketing board for greenhouse vegetable growers says “this is an
issue that is of great concern to greenhouse vegetable producers.
“We
continually work hard to differentiate our products in the
marketplace, and to make consumers aware of the advantages of
purchasing Ontario greenhouse vegetables.
“Incorrectly
labelling imported produce as being Ontario product not only misleads
consumers, but also negates the investment that Ontario producers
make every day into producing a superior product to meet consumer
demands.”
The
marketing board has not yet revealed what disciplinary measures, if
any, it will take against Mucci.
