Commerce Commission charges Farmland Foods for misleading customers

Friday, 26 April 2019

Farmland Foods has been accused of misleading customers about the origin of its products.

Farmland Foods is facing charges under the Fair Trading Act for allegedly misleading consumers about the place of origin of some of its ham products.

The charges have been laid by the Commerce Commission following an investigation into the labelling on packaging of three sizes of its Heritage Cooked on the Bone ham products.

The consumer watchdog has alleged the packaging gave consumers the false or misleading impression that the products were made from New Zealand-reared pork, when the majority of the pork was imported.

The ham products were sold between October 1, 2015 and September 1, 2018.

* If you love me, don't feed me bacon

* Do you know where your bacon comes from?**

The case will be called again in Palmerston North District Court on May 9.

As the matter is before the court, the commission would not make any further comment.

Farmland Foods managing director Eddie Davis said while there may be some concern about these charges, they did not relate to the quality or safety of the product.

'As the matter is continuing to go through a formal process we can't say much more at this stage, however we will keep giving updates as things are worked through.'

Farmland Foods is a Bulls-based, family-owned meat processing business.

It produces more than 100 meat products which are sold at all major supermarkets in New Zealand.