Boucherie M. Rhéaume Inc. Fined $3,000 for an Offence Under the Food and Drugs Act

December 24, 2010, Montreal, Quebec - On September 10, 2010, at the Quebec Courthouse, Boucherie M. Rhéaume Inc., located in Lac-Saint-Charles, pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Food and Drugs Act.

The Court of Quebec fined the company $3,000 and ordered the forfeiture and destruction of approximately $4,000 worth of meat products.

The offence, which occurred on June 4, 2008, involved packaging meat products in a misleading manner likely to create an erroneous impression regarding their nature or composition. Boucherie M. Rhéaume Inc., a non federally registered establishment, packaged meat products in boxes bearing the meat inspection legend without authorization, thereby contravening subsection 5(1) of the Food and Drugs Act.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for enforcing a variety of federal legislation, including the food-related provisions of the Food and Drugs Act. The Food and Drugs Act prohibits the packaging of food in a manner likely to create an erroneous impression regarding its nature or composition. Among other things, this act is intended to protect consumers against economic fraud and product misrepresentation related to food.

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