Order to remove ‘local’ claims stands

ALLISTON – An Alliston restaurant owner has been told by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) it will go into “enforcement mode” at the end of next week if he doesn’t come up with a plan to remove local claims from certain items on his menu.

Bistro Burger Joint co-owner Jay Klausen met with CFIA representatives Friday (April 12) to discuss its demands originally made at the end of March.

“They’ve given us two weeks to comply by telling them what we are going to do,” Klausen said. “If we don’t change it, then they go into enforcement, we are not sure what that is going to be. They could do something right away, it could be a year from now, who knows.”

The CFIA is coming down on the restaurant after an anonymous complaint was made about the establishment describing food items from across the province as local.

According to the CFIA, which has declined to comment on the matter, the term “local” can only be used when the food is “manufactured, processed, produced or packaged” in the municipality where a business is located or its neighbouring municipalities.

For the New Tecumseth-based business, the CFIA classifies the town and its neighbouring communities of Adjala-Tosorontio, Essa, Bradford West Gwillimbury, Innisfil, King and Caledon as local.

Klausen disagrees with the federal government’s definition. He admits this battle has opened up a debate over what the term should mean, but stands firm it should apply to anything made within the province.

“I think as long as we are supporting our province, that’s the key right?” he said.

Klausen’s belief actually matches up with the province’s Local Food Act, which defines local food as anything produced or harvested in Ontario.

The CFIA also originally told the restaurant to remove claims around the beef used in their burgers, such as “naturally raised” and “hormone free.”

But Klausen said the CFIA has rescinded the order since the federal government is currently reviewing these definitions.

Simcoe-Grey MP Kellie Leitch defines local as anything sourced from within the riding.

“I think anything within our townships, anything within the riding of Simcoe-Grey is absolutely local and would advocate for that,” she said.

While Klausen has not approached her, Leitch said she would be willing to speak with him on the matter. In the meantime she said he must follow the rules.

“The rules are clearly defined,” she said. “It seems very odd to me that they make this statement.”

She acknowledged there are many definitions of the term local, but said adhering to the rules isn’t up for debate.

“If you want to disagree with me on that, then I think that flies in the face of democracy as we speak for it,” she said.

During his recent meeting with the CFIA, Klausen brought up examples to highlight why he feels the rules are arbitrary and don’t really consider distance.

Klausen, who says it’s been difficult to run his business during all of this, feels the government agency’s concerns are trivial given their overall mandate to protect consumers.

“Trying to stay on top of everything, it’s like a job unto itself,” he said.

Klausen said he’s been in talks with the federal ministry of agriculture in hopes of finding other solutions.

“It could be up to us to change the legislation, and we are going to keep pressing,” he said.

Since speaking out about this issue on his Facebook page and with The Herald, Klausen said he’s been overwhelmed with all the positive attention.

“Were just thankful for all the support from the community right now, and their input and their interest and kind of standing up for us…that’s the beautiful thing about a small community.”