“100% Pure New Zealand” Dairy Company fined for falsely using Indian Butter.

A New Zealand dairy company has been busted for falsely claiming its products were “100% pure New Zealand”, despite using butter imported from India.

On 26 August, the dairy company Milkio Foods Limited was fined 420,000 New Zealand dollars ($261,452).

The Commerce Commission claimed in a statement that the Hamilton, New Zealand-based company had deceived consumers about the origin of its ghee products by making “claims like ‘100% Pure New Zealand’ despite importing the core ingredient from India.”

The export of high-quality dairy products is a source of pride for New Zealand’s agriculture-based economy, with overseas customers hungry for milk and butter from its rich pastures.

According to the commission, Hamilton-based Milkio acknowledged to 15 violations of the Fair Trade Act, including making false claims and using the FernMark logo—which is used to identify goods made in New Zealand—without authorization.

“Milkio took advantage of this reputation to promote their own products” stated Vanessa Horne, a spokeswoman for the Commerce Commission.

“It will serve as a warning to others who may be looking to falsely claim the New Zealand brand,” Horne stated in reference to the case.

Milkio did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

One of the main sources of income for the South Pacific nation of New Zealand is the dairy industry.

To get regular Food Industry updates, feel free to join our WhatsApp group: Joining link