The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has launched action against Steggles, La Ionica and the Australian Chicken Meat Federation (ACMF) for misleading consumers with claims its chickens "roam free".
The ACCC alleges Baiada Poultry and Bartter Enterprises, who owns the Steggles brand nationally, and Turi Foods, which supply La Ionica chickens, and the ACMF engaged in false representations of how "free" its chickens are.
A Steggles campaign said its chickens are not raised in cages but barns, meaning its chickens are not confined to a small space. However, the ACCC alleges the population density of chickens raised in barns wouldn't allow a chicken to move freely. Turi Foods allegedly make the same claims about its products.
The ACMF, the peak body for the industry, are said to have misrepresented the ability of chickens to roam free in barns.
A statement from the ACCC said: "Promotional activities that convey an impression of farming practices are powerful representations which influence many consumer purchases and food choices. This is an area where the ACCC will be vigilant in promoting consumer interests and ensuring companies adhere to the law."
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