Unpacking the ‘Made in Canada’ Label
Exploring the Global Roots of Everyday Products and the Surprising Connections We All Share
Picture yourself walking through the aisles of a Canadian supermarket. The cool, crisp air surrounds you, and mini Canadian flags flutter gently overhead. Everywhere you look, ‘Made in Canada’ labels proudly catch your eye.
But let’s be real, those flags are probably made in China. And that’s just the beginning.
If we took a closer look at where everything we buy really comes from, we might be surprised. We’d see just how much we depend on each other, and how much we all contribute to the bigger picture.
Take the “Product of Canada” label for example. Here’s the fine print. It’s only allowed to be used when virtually all of the major ingredients, processing, and labor used to create a food product come from Canada. In practice, this means that most of the ingredients must be Canadian in origin, with non-Canadian materials making up less than 2% of the product. This small percentage can include things like spices or vitamins.
2% might not seem like much, but those ingredients have to come from somewhere, right? At a glance:
Spices:
- India: India is one of the largest producers of many spices, such as turmeric, cumin, coriander, cardamom, and black pepper. These spices are shipped to Canada in bulk. (RankingRoyals)
- Indonesia: This country is a major source for spices like nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. (TpointTech)
- Mexico: Known for producing chili peppers and vanilla beans, which are imported into Canada. (TpointTech)
- Middle East: Countries like Iran and Turkey also contribute spices such as saffron, dried mint, and sumac. (Reuters)
Vitamins:
- United States: The U.S. is a significant supplier of vitamins and nutritional supplements to Canada. Many vitamins, including common ones like Vitamin C, D, and E, are produced in American factories and shipped to Canada. (Statistica)
- China: China is one of the world’s largest producers of raw materials for vitamins, particularly for vitamin C, which is synthesized from raw materials like corn and other grains. (GlobalNewsWire)
- Europe: Some vitamins, especially specialty ones like Vitamin B12 or unique formulations, come from European manufacturers in countries like Germany and Switzerland. (Statistica)
And here’s the kicker. Product makers don’t have to tell you exactly where they’re sourced from, just that they’re not local.
Packaging is also not part of the equation. It’s about the food itself, not the materials that wrap it or hold it.
And then there are the things we can’t grow here, like oranges, cane sugar, or coffee. Let’s be honest — we’d miss coffee.
So, in the end, “Made in Canada” is more complicated than it seems. But maybe that’s not a bad thing. It’s just a reminder that we have to lean on each other to survive and thrive.
On a personal note, I get this feeling too. I’m made in Canada, but my great-grandparents immigrated here, so I’m not really fully made in Canada either. In the same way that products labeled “Made in Canada” carry elements from all over the world, we too are shaped by influences that span generations and countries. It’s that mix of cultures, backgrounds, and stories that make us who we are. We’re all part of a bigger, interconnected world, just like the things we consume.
The only real enemy is ignorance.
