Citizens are increasingly sharing lists of American products to avoid, raising the question of whether it’s realistic to eliminate these goods from shopping. Economist Pascal Thériault highlights the complexities in identifying truly American products due to multinational ownership. Efforts for food independence in Quebec face challenges, as most local items contain foreign ingredients. The CAQ continues to promote local purchasing, with initiatives like the $12 challenge. Alternatives to American grocery items are provided to encourage supporting local producers.
Can We Really Boycott American Products?
Citizens are rallying together to respond to American products by sharing lists of items to steer clear of in grocery stores on social media. But the question remains: is it genuinely feasible to eliminate American goods from our shopping carts?
Economist and agronomist Pascal Thériault offers a nuanced perspective: “I take this list with a grain of salt, because we are discussing large multinationals, and often, investors have interests in multiple countries.” This makes it challenging to identify products that are solely American.
In an effort to clarify, a list was compiled, revealing that identifying products made in the United States whose profits solely benefit American corporations is not as straightforward as it seems. For instance, Hellmann’s mayonnaise is owned by Unilever, a British multinational, which complicates the notion of avoiding American brands entirely.
The circulating lists online often contain inaccuracies regarding the origins of various products. The focus should be on those items specifically sold by American companies. However, adopting a local purchasing strategy may not be a foolproof win for Quebec, as avoiding American products could potentially backfire.
“The Caisse de dépôt invests in various types of companies to grow our savings, so we could end up harming our own interests,” Thériault emphasizes.
The Challenge of Food Independence
Removing American items from our grocery lists turns out to be a Herculean effort. Most local food products contain ingredients sourced from other countries. “Finding 100% Canadian products is quite rare,” notes sector expert Sylvain Charlebois.
It’s worth mentioning that Canada exported a record $42 billion worth of agri-food products to the United States in 2024. The 25% tariffs on Canadian goods could potentially impact American consumers more than Canadians, Charlebois warns.
Quebec’s quest for food independence remains an elusive goal, a point recognized by the CAQ since its election in 2018. While the party once frequently discussed this topic, the conversation has quieted. However, CAQ MP André Lamontagne continues to advocate for supporting Quebec’s local producers and processors.
In 2021, Minister Lamontagne initiated the $12 challenge to bolster food independence. He suggests that if every Quebec household replaces $12 worth of foreign products with local ones each week, it could lead to an additional billion dollars for Quebec’s producers, processors, and fishermen by year-end.
For those interested in boycotting American products, here’s a list of alternatives to consider at the grocery store:
Alternatives to American Grocery Products
1. **Cream Cheese**
Philadelphia by Kraft, 250g brick – $4.49
Lactantia by Lactalis Canada (French company), 227g – $3.99
2. **Peanut Butter**
Kraft, creamy, 500g – $5.39
Natur, BioForceCanada, creamy, 500g – $5.79
3. **Coffee**
Folgers by J.M. Smucker Company, medium roast ground coffee, 816g – $13.49
Café William, medium roast ground coffee, Ciao Bella, 700g – $20.49
4. **Canned/Frozen Vegetables**
Géant vert by B&G Foods, two-color corn, 341ml – $1.79
Arctic Gardens by Groupe Bonduelle, frozen super sweet corn, 750g – $4.99
(Note: For the weight conversion, Géant vert’s price per equivalent weight is $4.48)
5. **Coffee Drinks**
Starbucks, mocha Frappuccino, 405ml – $3.00
Trema, mocha-flavored latte coffee drink, 330ml – $3.99
6. **Hot Sauces**
Tabasco by McIlhenny Company, chili sauce, 57ml – $3.29
La Pimenterie, Vertigo (lime and coriander flavor), 148ml – $11.49
(Note: For equivalent weight, Tabasco’s price is $8.23)
7. **Whiskey**
Jack Daniel’s by Brown-Forman, Old No 7, 750 ml – $39.75 (SAQ)
Canadian Club, Ontario, 750ml – $29.20 (SAQ)
8. **Chocolate Chips**
Hershey’s, semi-sweet chocolate chips, 925g – $14.99
Sélection, semi-sweet chocolate chips, 925g – $9.99
9. **Beer**
Coors Light, 12 cans of 355ml – $22.99
Boréale, Lager, 12 cans of 355ml – $19.99
10. **Tea**
Salada, orange pekoe black tea (72 bags) – $6.79
DavidsTea, organic Earl Grey cream black tea (12 bags) – $9.50
Sources: Lowest current prices among retailers Metro/Super C, Maxi/Provigo, IGA.