Australian yoghurt manufacturer MOO Premium Foods has agreed to remove all ‘ocean plastic’ claims from its business following an investigation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
The ACCC has accepted MOO’s court-enforceable undertaking in relation to misleading representations on its yoghurt packaging.
Go deeper with GlobalData
In the undertaking, MOO admitted that the term ‘100% ocean plastic’ on its yoghurt tubs has ‘likely contravened’ the Australian Consumer Law (ACL).
The ACL is a national law, which, among other things, covers consumer rights and prohibits false or misleading representations.
MOO will now remove the ‘100% ocean plastic’ term from its yoghurt packaging, social media platforms, and website as a result of this decision.
The company will also publish corrective notices across its social media platforms and website, as well as carry out internal audits of the ‘ocean-bound plastic’ resin used in its packaging.
How well do you really know your competitors?
Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.
Thank you!
Your download email will arrive shortly
Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample
We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form
By GlobalDataACCC commissioner Liza Carver said: “Our investigation revealed that the plastic resin used in the manufacture of MOO’s yoghurt packaging was collected from coastal areas in Malaysia, and not directly from the ocean.”
According to the competition regulator, the disclaimers provided by the company were included on the top and back of the yoghurt tubs, which were not sufficient to justify the use of the term ‘100% ocean plastic’ in the headline.
Claims made by the yoghurt products manufacturer on its concerned packaging might have given the impression that the packaging used plastic waste obtained directly from the ocean while that was not the case, the ACCC added.
The packaging term was in circulation from November 2021 to 24 November 2023, which was the date of the undertaking.
Carver added: “Making false statements about a product’s environmental or sustainability qualities can mislead consumers, as well as putting the businesses making genuine claims at a competitive disadvantage.
“It is important that environmental and sustainability claims by businesses are correct as they are a key influence on consumer choices and what people spend their money on.”
