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Fake Maple Syrup: Bernard Coleman, U.S. Man, Guilty Of Selling Fake Syrup, Faces Up To 3 Years In Prison

Fake Maple Syrup

First Posted: 02/24/2012 2:40 pm Updated: 02/24/2012 10:19 pm

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BURLINGTON, Vt. - A Rhode Island man has pleaded guilty in Vermont federal court to selling mislabeled maple syrup.

Fifty-year-old Bernard Coleman of West Warwick, R.I., said he initially sold pure maple syrup over the Internet. But when the price of syrup increased, he decided to make his own out of water, sugar and maple flavouring. He said he made the syrup in his home and sold it since 2009.

A couple who bought about $220 worth of syrup from him doubted that it was authentic and had it tested by the state Department of Agriculture Consumer Protection. It was determined to be made from cane sugar.

Coleman pleaded guilty Thursday to introducing adulterated food into interstate commerce with the intent to defraud or mislead. He faces up to three years in prison.

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BURLINGTON, Vt. - A Rhode Island man has pleaded guilty in Vermont federal court to selling mislabeled maple syrup.Fifty-year-old Bernard Coleman of West Warwick, R.I., said he initially sold pure map...
BURLINGTON, Vt. - A Rhode Island man has pleaded guilty in Vermont federal court to selling mislabeled maple syrup.Fifty-year-old Bernard Coleman of West Warwick, R.I., said he initially sold pure map...
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Another Pesky Canadian
Talk - action = 0
787 Fans
12:06 PM on 02/26/2012
Release him on ONE condition: he must wear a beaver mascot outfit 24 hours a day for one year, attending hockey games in his area carrying a large Canadian flag whenever the Toronto Maple Leafs (or any other Canadian hockey team) are in town and adding "eh?" to the end of every sentence he speaks during that year.

Believe me; nobody will want to mess with maple syrup again.
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probative
19 Fans
 
11:29 PM on 02/25/2012
Nah. No reason to clutter up a jail with this guy. Put him to work for 3 years in a sugar bush.
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sonianslima
0 Fans
09:15 PM on 02/25/2012
I was vacationing in Quebec last year and I bought a bottle of Syrup in a well know tourist store and that syrup tasted like tea, I couldn't believe it. I even gave another bottle as a gift to a friend, and I was embarrased to know that that syrup had a very bad quality. Probably was one of the faked ones, Hum.
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probative
19 Fans
 
11:33 PM on 02/25/2012
Did you buy it over the internet while you were visiting Quebec? Because this story says this guy was selling it over the internet. Really.

If you're used to the sickeningly sweet and artificially flavoured pancake toppings, you may be surprised by the taste of the real thing. I've been enjoying Canadian maple syrup my whole life and haven't encountered any that tasted like tea.

Although you don't mention what kind of tea either, so it's hard to compare. :)
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Another Pesky Canadian
Talk - action = 0
787 Fans
12:07 PM on 02/26/2012
I use that tea-tasting maple syrup in my hottub...it keeps it from freezing over during the winter. ;)
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Red The Grey
17 Fans
 
02:37 PM on 02/25/2012
Who buys $220 worth of maple syrup ?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SayBlade
This micro bio intentionally left blank.
701 Fans
03:05 PM on 02/25/2012
If you buy it in Québec, it is around half the price if you buy it in Ontario. That's worth stocking up on.
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Another Pesky Canadian
Talk - action = 0
787 Fans
12:09 PM on 02/26/2012
Do you have ANY idea how much of the stuff it takes to fill your hottub these days?
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fromdnorth
OK I checked my micro-bio (didn't know I had one
1787 Fans
01:32 PM on 02/25/2012
Probably the "Maple Syrup" gifted to Perry...
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kanuck tatonka
18 Fans
12:00 PM on 02/25/2012
gotta keep those private prisons full... watch out hot dog and french fry peoples, they are coming after you next...
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Poster999
A promise made is a debt unpaid.
369 Fans
09:02 PM on 02/25/2012
LOL, F&F
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kanook67
The future is not what it used to be.
6010 Fans
10:30 AM on 02/25/2012
So you're making a copy of our genuine Canadian Maple Syrup. What next? Are you going to copy our Universal Healthcare system?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Kenneth T Tellis
47 Fans
10:30 AM on 02/25/2012
Now that's a new spin on the Maplele Syrup whatever.
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ontariogirl
Peace!
762 Fans
09:27 AM on 02/25/2012
Off with his head!
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Poster999
A promise made is a debt unpaid.
369 Fans
09:05 PM on 02/25/2012
Hanging is to good for this guy! I mean were talking counterfeit Maple Syrup here.
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ontariogirl
Peace!
762 Fans
10:53 AM on 02/27/2012
True that. Big pot of boiling water......
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GeoToronto
Nik Nak Paddy Wak, Still Ridin' Caddy-Laks
180 Fans
 
09:24 AM on 02/25/2012
Fake maple syrup, is nothing sacred?
What's next, counterfeit hockey sticks?
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kanook67
The future is not what it used to be.
6010 Fans
09:08 AM on 02/25/2012
I have bad news for my American friends. Due to global warming the tapping of our Maple trees has just begun, one of the earliest starts in history. Because of this the production of Maple syrup is expected to be only about half of what we usually get. This will cause an upward spike in prices. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause in your pancake industry.
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NyJimbo
You wanna go that way? Oh, we'll go that way !
467 Fans
11:39 AM on 02/25/2012
That's ok, I only like artificial pancake syrup. Seriously, I dont like the aftertase of real maple syrup, it leaves a ether-like or gas taste that I hate. Give me fake syrup with a fake buttery taste and you can keep your tree sap.
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fromdnorth
OK I checked my micro-bio (didn't know I had one
1787 Fans
01:37 PM on 02/25/2012
I dont like the aftertase of real maple syrup
---------------------
Did you have it tested by the Dept of Food and Ag?
You probly bought it on d net...

BTW - have you ever had sex without a condom?
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SayBlade
This micro bio intentionally left blank.
701 Fans
03:07 PM on 02/25/2012
The sap may have been collected with plastic tubing instead of metal buckets and spiles. While it is more efficient to collect it that way, it would add something to the taste of the syrup. Try going to a sugar bush where plastic tubing is not used.
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BlackRabbit
174 Fans
01:10 PM on 02/25/2012
Maybe in Ontario. Quebec's had a cold winter.
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HerBee
27 Fans
09:05 AM on 02/25/2012
"Arch"enemy?
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Jaguar man
Every Time I Make A Typo The Errorists Win
2235 Fans
08:48 AM on 02/25/2012
He is a thief and a fraudster and deserves to serve everyday in jail. I can't believe there are people sort of defending his actions here.
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Brando85
11 Fans
07:07 AM on 02/25/2012
I wonder how many years this is gonna sit in the courts before its thrown out? hell probably be in court every 3 months for at least the next 2 years. sit there all day, only to have it adjourned to "next most reasonable" opportunity. HORSESHI_
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mhulgin
107 Fans
07:05 AM on 02/25/2012
Don't tell me that he's gonna get 3 years in Overcrowded Prisons over this ? Maybe some Probation, that's enough for what he did.....
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mad lib
1323 Fans
 
07:39 AM on 02/25/2012
Ah- sooo- no lesson learned- he and others would have a free pass and the public eats it?

He should serve every day of the sentence.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
mhulgin
107 Fans
07:50 AM on 02/25/2012
If you say so mad. The more that I think about it I'm going to agree with you. That was pretty damn stupid to pull that number off. He deserves to do the time....
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momof2greatones
2 Fans
07:50 AM on 02/25/2012
He should learn his lesson, but not in jail. There are those who pose a real danger to the public that are being let out way too early due to overcrowding. I say hit guys like this where it counts, in their greedy pockets. Fine him excessively, using part of the money to pay back those who were wronged and the rest to pay for the expense of other prisoners and the cost of courts.
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