Mucci International Marketing Inc., Mucci Pac Ltd., and Two Directors fined $1,500,000.00 for offences under the Food and Drugs Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and the Canada Agricultural Products Act

CFIA Press Release:

On June 6, 2016, in the Ontario Court of Justice in Windsor, Mucci International Marketing Inc., Mucci Pac Ltd., Danny Mucci and Joseph Spano were convicted on eight counts of contravening section 5(1) of the Food and Drugs Act, section 7(1) of the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, and section 17(a) of the Canada Agricultural Products Act. Mucci International Marketing Inc., Mucci Pac Ltd., Danny Mucci and Joseph Spano were ordered to pay total fines of $1,500,000.00 and sentenced to a three-year period of probation.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) laid charges in July 2014 after an investigation substantiated widespread misrepresentation of imported greenhouse vegetables as a Product of Canada, packaged by Mucci Pac Ltd., and sold by Mucci International Marketing Inc., to retail establishments, over a 15 month time frame.

Section 5(1) of the Food and Drugs Act states that no person shall label, package, treat, process, sell or advertise any food in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive, or is likely to create an erroneous impression regarding its character, value, quantity, composition, merit or safety.

Section 7(1) of the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act prohibits the labelling or selling of prepackaged food products containing any false or misleading representation.

Section 17(a) of the Canada Agricultural Products Act prohibits the marketing of imported produce which is not packaged and labelled in accordance with the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Regulations, including proper Country of Origin information, which is defined as the country in which the produce was grown.

Mucci International Marketing Inc., entered a guilty plea to three counts for contravening section 5(1) of the Food and Drugs Act, section 7(1) of the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, and section 17(a) of the Canada Agricultural Products Act, relating to the selling or marketing of the misrepresented produce.

Mucci Pac Ltd., entered guilty pleas to three similar counts involving packaging and labelling greenhouse peppers, tomatoes and cucumbers in a manner which misrepresented the Country of Origin.

Corporate Directors Danny Mucci and Joseph Spano entered a guilty plea to an offence under section 17(a) of the Canada Agricultural Products Act, for the marketing of misrepresented produce.

The CFIA is responsible for the administration and enforcement of federal legislation, acts and regulations, including the Food and Drugs Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act, and the Canada Agricultural Products Act.

The CFIA is dedicated to safeguarding food, animal, and plant health, which enhances the health and well-being of Canada’s people, environment, and economy.

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