Summarised by Centrist
Greenpeace Aotearoa is taking Fonterra to court, accusing the dairy giant of misleading consumers with its “100% New Zealand grass-fed” claim for Anchor butter.
Greenpeace argues that many of Fonterra’s farmers use palm kernel as a feed supplement, which not only contradicts the grass-fed label, but also raises concerns about environmental impact.
The lawsuit, served at Fonterra’s Auckland headquarters, challenges the dairy co-op’s branding. Greenpeace spokesperson Sinéad Deighton-O’Flynn called the claim “blatant greenwash.” Deighton-O’Flynn said that palm kernel, a byproduct of the palm oil industry, contributes to deforestation and human rights abuses in Southeast Asia.
Fonterra acknowledges that palm kernel is used during periods of low grass growth, such as droughts, but maintains that its farmers source it responsibly.
