Hoyt Food Manufacturing Industries (Hoyt’s Food) has paid a penalty of $10,800 in response to the issue of an infringement notice from the ACCC, which found a sample of Hoyt’s Oregano Leaves Rubbed contained around 50 per cent olive leaf.
The ACCC says it considered that by including the statements ‘Oregano Leaves’ and ‘Oregano has a strong aromatic camphor-like scent’ on product packaging, Hoyt’s Food misrepresented that its oregano product contained only oregano, except for trace ingredients
“Suppliers of food products must ensure the accuracy of representations about the ingredients on labelling and any other packaging,” ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said.
“Consumers use labelling on food products to make their purchasing decisions and are entitled to expect accurate labelling.”
On being notified by the ACCC of its concerns, Hoyt’s Food took steps to change its supply arrangements and indicated it would test its oregano products in the future.
The payment of a penalty specified in an infringement notice is not an admission of a contravention of the Australian Consumer Law. The ACCC can issue an infringement notice where it has reasonable grounds to believe a person has contravened certain consumer protection laws.
The ACCC initiated an investigation into a number of products labelled as ‘Oregano’ following a complaint from the consumer advocate group, Choice, which included tests reports suggesting the products were not 100 per cent oregano.