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Two local bacon companies have been busted for using labels suggesting their products are made from New Zealand pork, when in fact they are made from imported pork.
The Commerce Commission has issued formal warnings to Kiwi and Premier bacon following a complaint by Green Party MP Sue Kedgley in April over misleading labelling.
The commission said yesterday the labelling was misleading and at risk of breaching the Fair Trading Act. The companies have agreed on changes.
"The commission's view is that the overall impression created by the labelling on the bacon and ham products was that they were made in New Zealand from New Zealand produced pork ... In fact, while these products were produced in New Zealand, a significant amount of the pork used to make the products was imported."
The labelling on Premier bacon and ham products said: "Country Goodness from the Heart of the Wairarapa" with a Carterton address, while the labelling on Kiwi bacon and ham products said: "Kiwi - The taste of New Zealand", and had the Kiwi logo and the Auckland address of Goodman Fielder.
Commerce Commission acting Fair Trading Director Stuart Wallace said: "Goodman Fielder advised the commission ... that it has changed the labelling for its bacon and ham products made in New Zealand from imported pork. Premier is also ... changing its product labels. We will continue to monitor the labelling."
