New Zealand-based dairy giant Fonterra has issued a formal statement acknowledging that its “100% New Zealand grass-fed” claim on Anchor butter packaging may have misled some consumers, following a legal settlement with environmental group Greenpeace.
The label, used on products sold between December 2023 and April 2025, came under scrutiny because cows’ diets also included supplementary feed such as palm kernel, which is not grass. In its statement, the cooperative admitted the claim was “likely to mislead” certain consumers, particularly those unfamiliar with dairy farming practices, and confirmed that the label has now been removed from packaging.
Greenpeace, which initiated the lawsuit in 2024, argued the labeling breached fair trading laws and linked palm kernel feed to deforestation concerns in Southeast Asia. The development marks a significant moment for transparency in dairy labeling, highlighting increasing global pressure on dairy companies to ensure accurate sustainability claims and avoid greenwashing, while reinforcing the need for clearer consumer communication around production practices. (Reuters)
Source: Dairynews7x7 6 April, 2026 Read full story here
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