Greenpeace Targets Fonterra in High Court over Grass-Fed Claims on Anchor Butter
Greenpeace has filed High Court proceedings against Fonterra, one of New Zealand’s largest dairy companies, challenging the labeling of its Anchor butter as made from “100% grass-fed” cows.
The environmental organization contends that up to 20 percent of the dairy cows' diet includes imported palm kernel, a product linked to deforestation and the destruction of orangutan habitats in Southeast Asia. According to Greenpeace spokesperson Sinéad Deighton-O’Flynn, this discrepancy undermines Fonterra’s environmental claims and misleads consumers.
New Zealand’s Fair Trading Act 1986 is central to Greenpeace’s argument, which alleges that Fonterra’s labeling is misleading. According to Fonterra’s internal “New Zealand Grass-Fed Standard,” cows may consume up to 20 percent non-grass feed, including palm kernel. Greenpeace argues that this internal standard contrasts with the label on Anchor butter, which implies that cows are entirely grass-fed.
The case against Fonterra aligns with a recent lawsuit brought by the Environmental Law Initiative, Consumer NZ, and Lawyers for Climate Action NZ against Z Energy, which claimed its “Moving with the Times” campaign was misleading. This case, along with Greenpeace’s claim against Fonterra, points to an increasing focus on corporate accountability for environmental claims in New Zealand. Both cases argue that corporate actions are in violation of the Fair Trading Act and seek injunctions for corrective actions and the cessation of misleading representations.
New Zealand’s Fair Trading Act 1986 is central to Greenpeace’s argument, which alleges that Fonterra’s labeling is misleading. According to Fonterra’s internal “New Zealand Grass-Fed Standard,” cows may consume up to 20 percent non-grass feed, including palm kernel. Greenpeace argues that this internal standard contrasts with the label on Anchor butter, which implies that cows are entirely grass-fed.
Fonterra has acknowledged the proceedings but has not yet issued a public response.
The case against Fonterra aligns with a recent lawsuit brought by the Environmental Law Initiative, Consumer NZ, and Lawyers for Climate Action NZ against Z Energy, which claimed its “Moving with the Times” campaign was misleading. This case, along with Greenpeace’s claim against Fonterra, points to an increasing focus on corporate accountability for environmental claims in New Zealand. Both cases argue that corporate actions are in violation of the Fair Trading Act and seek injunctions for corrective actions and the cessation of misleading representations.
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