A proposed class-action lawsuit filed in Quebec Superior Court alleges that berries sold by U.S.-based fruit company Driscoll’s contained pesticide and other chemical residues above levels permitted under Canadian regulations. The company disputes the allegations and says its products are safe to eat.
Quebec Consumers Included in Proposed Class Action
The proposed class action seeks to represent anyone who purchased Driscoll’s strawberries, raspberries, blackberries or blueberries in Quebec since Jan. 1, 2022.
The lawsuit alleges the California-based company failed to adequately inform consumers about pesticide residues and other chemicals allegedly found in its berries.
“The failure to disclose this critical information regarding berries sold in Quebec is compounded by misleading representations surrounding these products,” the lawsuit states.
According to the filing, consumers were therefore unable to make fully informed purchasing decisions and may have been exposed to potential health risks without their knowledge.
The allegations contained in the proposed class-action lawsuit have not been tested or proven in court.
Lawsuit Says Class Could Include Millions of Consumers
The named plaintiff is a Quebec woman who says she consumed dozens of containers of Driscoll’s berries beginning in January 2022, including while she was pregnant in 2025.
“Ms. Gauthier had always suspected that pesticides were used in the cultivation of the Driscoll’s berries she purchased,” the lawsuit said.
“However, she had always expected them to contain pesticide residues at levels that complied with applicable standards. For the plaintiff, as for any consumer, the fact that the berries she purchased contain pesticides in excess of regulatory thresholds is a significant issue.”
If the class action is authorized by a Quebec judge, the lawsuit claims it could potentially involve millions of consumers. The amount being sought in compensatory and punitive damages has not yet been determined.
According to the lawsuit, Driscoll’s is the world’s largest berry distributor and ships about four billion trays of fruit annually to more than 60 countries, including Canada.
Its products are widely available in Quebec through retailers including IGA, Maxi, Rachelle Béry, Provigo, Super C, Metro, Tradition and Pharmaprix, known as Shoppers Drug Mart elsewhere in Canada.
Former Employee Raised Concerns About Canadian Exports
The Quebec proceeding follows allegations made by former Driscoll’s employee David Harada in a separate lawsuit filed in June.
Harada alleged that approximately half of the company’s berry exports to Canada between 2022 and 2024 contained chemicals, including bifenthrin, iprodione and captan, at levels exceeding Canadian limits.
Harada joined Driscoll’s as an agronomist in September 2022 and later became director of food safety and regulatory compliance for the United States and Canada.
He estimated that berries exported to Canada that may have been affected were worth nearly US$100 million.
Harada was terminated on Oct. 1, 2025, after raising allegations about the company’s practices involving berries exported to Canada.
Lawsuit Alleges Monitoring System Was Discontinued
The Quebec lawsuit further alleges that Driscoll’s previously operated a system to monitor product safety and compliance with Canadian regulations but discontinued that system in 2022.
It claims the company received notifications about irregular chemical residue levels from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), RQA Inc. and Canadian buyers.
Despite those warnings, the lawsuit alleges Driscoll’s continued selling millions of pounds of berries in Canada that exceeded regulatory limits for pesticides and certain other chemicals.
The filing also alleges that CFIA inspections at Canadian grocery stores between 2022 and 2024 identified Driscoll’s fruit containing chemical residues above permitted thresholds.
According to the lawsuit, the agency also received reports concerning potential illnesses associated with consuming Driscoll’s blueberries, along with complaints about a chemical taste or odour.
Driscoll’s Disputes Allegations and Defends Food Safety Programs
Driscoll’s has rejected the allegations and says the claims do not accurately represent its operations or food-safety practices.
“Driscoll’s disputes those allegations and welcomes the opportunity to address these claims through the legal process, where the underlying facts, data, and expert analysis can be fully examined,” the company said in a statement to CTV News.
“We are confident that Canadians will see that Driscoll’s maintains comprehensive food safety and compliance programs and that the allegations do not reflect the reality of how our business operates.”
Driscoll’s said its berries are safe to eat and that it uses testing and monitoring procedures intended to comply with Canadian requirements.
“Driscoll’s sources berries for Canadians from dozens of independent family farms and employs extensive testing, monitoring, and compliance procedures designed to meet regulatory requirements in the markets where our products are sold, including Canada,” the company wrote.
“We take food safety and compliance seriously and invest significant resources to help ensure the safety and quality of our berries. Our goal is always full compliance with applicable standards.”
The company added that it remains committed to complying with Canadian food laws and maintaining consumer confidence.
“Canadians have placed their trust in our berries for generations, and we take that responsibility seriously,” it said.
“For more than 100 years, we have worked to earn the trust of consumers by communicating responsibly about our products and growing practices, and we remain committed to earning the trust of Canadian consumers every day through safe, high-quality products and compliance with Canadian laws and regulations.”
The proposed class action must still proceed through Quebec’s authorization process. Until the allegations are considered by the court, they remain unproven, while Driscoll’s continues to dispute the claims and defend its Canadian food-safety and compliance practices.
Sophie MacKenzie is a contributor to CA News Ottawa, covering news, politics, business, technology, sport, entertainment, and lifestyle. She focuses on clear, accurate reporting and useful information that helps readers stay informed about current affairs and developments that shape their communities. Her work highlights relevant stories, emerging trends, and important issues, presenting them in a balanced, accessible, and reader-friendly manner.
