EasyMeals pinged by ACCC over diabetes

THIS online food company is in trouble with the consumer watchdog for making misleading claims in telemarketing calls.

EasyMeals has admitted it breached consumer protection laws.

ONLINE food company EasyMeals has admitted contravening consumer law by presenting its meals as being suitable for all diabetics.

The company sold the meals over nine months between 2014 and 2015 when diabetes is actually dependent on an individual’s condition, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said on Wednesday.

The company offered a court enforceable undertaking to the ACCC, admitted it had breached certain Australian consumer laws, and has now taken corrective measures.

EasyMeals misled customers.

The watchdog said its investigation was prompted by a complaint from Anglicare Northern Territory, on behalf of a newly arrived migrant who was not fluent in English who had received telemarketing calls from EasyMeals.

“Consumer protection issues effecting on vulnerable and disadvantaged consumers, with a particular focus on consumers who are newly arrived in Australia, is a current enforcement and compliance priority for the ACCC,” ACCC deputy chair Delia Rickard said.

“Businesses supplying food products must take particular care to ensure that they do not misrepresent the suitability of their products for consumers with particular health conditions, such as diabetes or allergies.

“False or misleading representations of this type can have serious consequences for consumers with these conditions who rely on the representations.

“Businesses must ensure that they have robust compliance procedures in place to prevent breaches of the ACL, such as false or misleading representations regarding their products or failing to comply with the unsolicited consumer agreement provisions.”