As a result of our story, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency launched an investigation and uncovered even more problems relating to the alleged tampering with best before dates. Now charges have been laid against Santa Maria foods, the largest distributor of Italian food products in Canada. The company is facing ten counts, including tampering with best before dates and the misuse of government inspection stamps. Details of the charges You can't trust 'best before' dates on some foods in Canadian stores. A Marketplace investigation has revealed date tampering at North America's largest distributor of Italian foods, Santa Maria Foods.
Many shoppers rely on the 'best before' date displayed on all foods.
It's an assurance of freshness and quality. But the 'best before' dates on some products you find in your favourite grocery store are useless. Marketplace spoke with nearly a dozen people, including former employees of Santa Maria Foods, two Italian manufacturers and Canadian retailers who sell Santa Maria's products across the country. Two former employees agreed to appear on camera for this story. They insisted that their identities be disguised.