Hume Import & Export (Australia) Pty Ltd, trading as Bera Foods, has paid a penalty of $10,200 after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) issued the company an infringement notice for misrepresentation.
The ACCC found Bera Foods had misused the word “Honey” and a map of Australia on their “Hi Honey” label, suggesting that the honey was produced in Australia. Bera Foods honey is produced in Turkey and is mostly composed of plant sugars.
“The ACCC was concerned in this case because although “Hi Honey” was labelled as honey, the product was not actually honey produced by honey bees. Honey suppliers must ensure any products they sell as “honey” are in fact produced entirely by honey bees,” ACCC Commissioner Sarah Court said.
“Further, the inclusion of a prominent map of Australia on the Hi Honey label may have led consumers to conclude the product was produced in Australia when this was not the case.”
The ACCC has been cracking down on honey suppliers misrepresenting products, issuing three infringement notices to “Victoria Honey” earlier this year and taking action to ensure “Sunshine Honey”, “Hecham Honey”, “Brezzo Italian Red Gum Honey”, “Meg Myucku 100% natural honey” and “Golden Honey” withdrew remaining stock and ceased supply.
