Authorities inspecting maple syrup farms in Quebec, Canada, have found almost half of farmers using a banned chemical on their trees. Paraformaldehyde, which is used for keeping the holes drilled in trees from closing up. It has been illegal in Canada since 1991 but the country’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency has shown that is still being widely used, illicitly, in Quebec. Producers caught using the substance may be fined up to C$50,000 (US$32,500) and face criminal charges.

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By Monica Dobie, just-food.com correspondent in Montreal, Canada

Just Food Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Just Food Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact.

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Winning five categories in the 2025 Just Food Excellence Awards, Centric Software is setting the pace for digital transformation in food and FMCG. Explore how its integrated PLM and PXM suite delivers faster launches, smarter compliance and data-driven growth for complex, multi-channel product portfolios.

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