With the increase in the popularity of pure maple syrup, more food products use the word maple or images depicting pitchers of maple syrup, sugarhouses or maple leaves on their labeling. Frequently, these products contain no maple syrup or maple sugar and yet do not make clear that they are artificially flavored, as required by Vermont law.

It is our judgment that food products labeled as maple or containing illustrations evocative of maple syrup or maple syrup production, are deceptive in their labeling unless:

1. The product contains maple syrup or maple sugar derived from maple sap, or
2. Is clearly labeled as containing artificial maple flavoring on the primary display panel of the package. 

We believe that the below products purchased in Vermont violate the State of Vermont Statutes, Title 6, Chapter 32, Section 493 and request the Attorney General investigate their legality for sale in Vermont.

• Bakery On Main - Maple Multigrain Muffin Flavor Instant Oatmeal
• Better Oats - Maple & Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal
• Hormel - Black Label Maple Bacon
• Jimmy Dean - Premium Pork Maple Sausage 
• Kashi - Heart to Heart Golden Maple Oatmeal
• Kellogg's - Frosted Mini-Wheats Maple Brown Sugar Cereal
• Nature's Path - Frosted Mmmaple Brown Sugar Toaster Pastries
• Nature's Path - Maple Nut Hot Oatmeal
• Quaker - Golden Maple Oatmeal Squares 
• Quaker - Maple and Brown Sugar Instant Oatmeal

The Statutes of the State of Vermont, Title 6, Chapter 32, Section 493 states:

It shall be unlawful to use the term “maple syrup” or “maple sugar,” however modified, to describe any product, flavoring, sweetener, or food additive unless the product, flavoring, sweetener, or food additive so described meets the statutory definition of “maple syrup” or “maple sugar.” Terms such as “artificial maple syrup” or “artificial maple sugar” are declared to be misleading and deceptive and may not be used in the labeling or advertising of any product. Terms such as “artificial maple flavor” or “artificial maple flavor sweetener” may be used to describe a product flavored or sweetened with a substance which attempts to duplicate real maple flavor, providing that words such as “artificial,” “flavor,” and other modifiers of the word “maple” shall appear in equal prominence to the word “maple” on the label and in all advertising of the product.