The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) continues to crack down on egg suppliers that may be misleading customers with ‘free range’ claims, this time taking legal action against Derodi Pty Ltd (Derodi) and Holland Farms Pty Ltd (Holland).
The ACCC alleges that Derodi and Holland, which have a business known as Free Range Egg Farms, have made false and misleading claims by using ‘free range’ on their cartons, websites, Facebook page and Twitter account.
The ACCC alleges ‘free range’ labels were used to suggest their eggs were produced by hens that were able to move about freely on an open range on most days or on every ordinary day.
The independent authority also alleges the hens used at Free Range Egg Farms were unable to move freely on open ranges due to “the farming practices and conditions of the farms where the hens were kept”.
“The ACCC considers that free range means more than animals just having potential access to the outdoors,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.
“Consumers expect free range to mean animals genuinely can and do go outside on most days.”
The ACCC is asking the Federal Court for declarations, injunctions, pecuniary penalties, orders for the implementation of compliance programs, corrective notices and costs.
