Cereal Partners Australia (CPA), the manufacturer and distributor of Uncle Tobys brand oats, has paid penalties of $32,400 in relation to alleged false or misleading representations about the protein content of certain Uncle Tobys brand oats products. This followed the issue of three infringement notices by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
The packaging of Uncle Tobys ‘Quick Sachets’ oats contained the statement ‘Natural Source of Protein* Superfood’, and the packaging of Uncle Tobys ‘Traditional Oats’ contained the statement ‘Naturally Rich in Protein* Superfood’. The product packaging in each case contained the disclaimer “*when prepared with [1/2 or 2/3] cup of skim milk”, which appeared in fine print below the misleading statements.
These representations were also made in a television commercial promoting Uncle Tobys oats products, which contained a similar fine print disclaimer.
The ACCC alleged that by: combining the words ‘natural source’ / ‘naturally rich’, ‘protein’ and ‘superfood’ in the statements on the packaging and in a television commercial; and presenting the word ‘protein’ prominently in the centre of the front of the packet in a bright colour and in large font sizes,cCPA made false or misleading representations that the oats in these Uncle Tobys products contained a significant amount of protein, when this is not the case.
“Consumers should be able to purchase food products based on accurate health and composition claims. While the ACCC acknowledges that oats have many health benefits, on their own they are not high in protein, contrary to the representations made about these Uncle Tobys products,” ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.
“Business should be aware that a fine print disclaimer is insufficient to correct or qualify a prominent representation on packaging or in advertising that is false or misleading.”