New app lets shoppers scan labels to know if products are made in Canada

While Trump's tariff threats on all Canadian goods may be momentarily on hold, the ongoing trade war continues to loom over Canadian businesses.

Amid the uncertainty, buying Canadian-made products has become a top priority for many consumers. That's why an Edmonton-based software company created a new, easy-to-use digital tool to help shoppers find local food.

Check the Label is a new app created by Punchcard Systems that helps Canadians quickly identify, select, and purchase Canadian-made products.

Sam Jenkins, managing partner at Punchcard Systems, told us that the company wanted to help Canadians make informed purchasing decisions.

"Supporting Canadian-made products isn't just about patriotism — it's about building stronger communities and a more resilient economy," he said.

"Our mission is to help Canadians better understand their consumer choices by providing transparent and easy-to-access information about the production and manufacturing of their favourite products."

This is how the app works:

1. Allow camera access when prompted to scan barcodes
2. Point your camera at a product's barcode to scan it
3. If the product is found, you'll see its information and community votes on the originating country of the product.
4. If the product isn't found, you can enter its name manually.
5. Submit your vote for the product's origin or scan a new product.

The app uses AI to cross-reference product details when a new product is scanned. Once the information is validated, the AI provides consumers with the most likely origin and manufacturer details.

Jenkins explained that if a product isn't found in the app's database, users vote on its origin, helping to create a community-driven platform that supports local businesses.

"Every time you use the app, you'll help us build a robust database of information which will help other Canadians make decisions about their shopping choices."

We used the app to scan a container of Greek yogurt from Costco, and the app told us that it was likely American-made.

Check the Label

Jenkins explained another easy way to tell which products are genuinely Canadian-made:

• Made in Canada: This label means that the last substantial transformation of the product occurred in Canada, and at least 51 per cent of the total direct costs of producing or manufacturing the good were incurred in Canada.
• Product of Canada: This designation is even more stringent – it means that all or virtually all (at least 98 per cent) of the production or manufacturing costs were incurred in Canada. Any imported ingredients must be minimal.
• Assembled in Canada: This indicates that while the product was put together in Canada, it may contain significant foreign components.
• Imported by Canada: This means that a product was originally manufactured, produced, or sourced in Canada and then shipped to another country for sale or distribution. It indicates the country of origin but does not necessarily mean the product was entirely made in Canada — some components or materials could have been sourced from

Check the Label is available on your browser or for download on Google Play and the Apple App Store.